Beijing time (CEST) June 27, Group G Matchday 3 of the FIFA World Cup, Egypt 1-1 Iran. After the match, Iran striker Mehdi Taremi was interviewed in the mixed zone.

First, how do you feel about the dramatic ending of this match?

Unfortunately, I feel sad, but we still have hope. People always have hope. We had great energy in the dressing room after the match. So let's see what happens next. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's match and seeing the result.

Do you know if you have to travel back to Tijuana tonight?

Yes, we have to go back. We've been complaining about these things from the beginning.

This is a very bad FIFA World Cup. I mean, FIFA should have resolved every issue here, but unfortunately they failed to resolve them from the start.

Infantino came to our training room during our first match and said this was just the beginning. But the group stage ends tomorrow, and our logistics staff isn't here—they don't have visas.

How can we always have to go to Tijuana? We love the Mexican people, we love Tijuana, it's wonderful there, they're very humble, and we love them.

But as professional players in a professional competition, this isn't right. Yes, that's our opinion. Because now we have to go to Tijuana again. There's no recovery time, nothing—it's not fair. We think it's unfair. If FIFA thinks this is fair, well, good for them. But it's not fair.

Who will help us? If they want us out, okay, help us out. But this isn't fair. We don't have recovery time. We don't have our logistics staff here to help us. What else can we say? We've complained about these things, but no one helps. No one.

You just complained about travel issues. What's your opinion on VAR disallowing two goals in two consecutive matches by just centimeters after reviewing the replays?

That's a football issue. But what we're complaining about are non-football issues, because those details matter in football too. You know, recovery is very important—small details can affect a football match.

Yes, we just... we have hope, as I said. We have great energy in the dressing room. We'll keep looking forward and see what happens in tomorrow's match.

I'm sorry, there's nothing more to expect regarding the match, because in these circumstances from the beginning until now, we've given our best for 90 minutes. We're proud of ourselves. If something goes wrong, it's my responsibility because I failed to execute the penalty. If the team can advance from the group stage, then Alhamdulillah.

Do you think there are people who want Iran to leave this tournament as soon as possible? Do you think it would be easier for FIFA and U.S. authorities if Iran weren't competing? And you as a team have to fight against these things?

We have to fight against everything here. I don't know if people think that way, but from our perspective, yes, I think they would like it.

How is that possible? You play for 90 minutes under so much pressure, and then we have to go back again. Imagine if we advance from the group stage tomorrow, if we're lucky and advance from the group stage, but we don't have recovery time—how is that possible?

Can you explain? Are you disappointed with this FIFA World Cup?

No, we've done our best. We will always do our best. We fight for our people. We want to make them happy and bring joy. We want to send a message of peace to people inside Iran, outside Iran, to FIFA, to everyone.

But what others are giving us is not peace. Who will help us solve this problem? Who? FIFA? I don't know. The U.S.? I don't know. Who? Give me a name.

Can Infantino do more to resolve these issues?

As I said, Infantino came during our first match and said he would solve all the problems here. But in reality, nothing has been done.

Our logistics staff isn't here. Look, we don't have our media team—where is our own media? You can check, there's no media here. No media. Our equipment manager, I don't know where he is. No. There isn't one. Vice president, president—where are these people?

How much would you like to be able to stand here and only talk about what happened on the football pitch, without discussing all these things off the field?

On the football pitch? Are you talking about this match? No, we have strength. As you saw, we played very well. I think we fought hard for 90 minutes, and that was perfect. Yes, because of some small details, we couldn't win the match.

But we're here, we're here, we want to show ourselves. As I said, we want to bring joy to our people. But I mean, small details affect the game, recovery is important, a clear mind is important, but we don't have a clear mind here.

You mentioned various situations. I want to ask, this match is called a "Battle of Pride," and there's been much discussion about it. How does this factor affect you?

In our religion, our religion doesn't accept this. But we respect all LGBTQ+ people. That's their own choice, and it has nothing to do with us. We're here to play football. We respect all these people. If you have questions about the match, I'll answer them.

Can you talk about your relationship with your teammates in the dressing room? There's a video online of you speaking to the whole team. Tell us about your relationship and your desire to continue this journey together.

Taremi's motivational speech before the match: Don't have a weak mentality when facing great players, clear your mind and run with all your strength.

Yes, we hope to continue our journey. We have good energy internally, but we also have to talk about external factors. We have to say these things, because we can't always keep them inside. Some people don't like us, but we think that's unfair.

I think we have very good energy, positive energy, in our dressing room. We will continue. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

One last question. Given everything you've experienced, what would it mean for Iranian football to reach the knockout stage?

Honestly, my friend, we came here to make history. We're chasing that goal. We're doing everything for them.

I don't know what else to say. Let's wait until tomorrow. If our dream comes true, alhamdulillah; if not, I think we can still be proud of our performance and our players. Because of everything we've done in these last three matches, we're proud. Let's see what happens.

A message for FIFA.

FIFA is doing their best. We know they also have some problems they can't solve, as you know.

But football shouldn't be part of politics. It shouldn't be. That's what we want, that's the message we want to send. That's all.

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