33-year-old Iranian national football team captain Mehdi Taremi may not be able to participate in the upcoming Club World Cup. Today the regional situation is more tense than ever. Israel’s sustained attacks on Iran brought the situation to a boiling point. Therefore, Taremi’s planned move to the United States has been postponed indefinitely. His current club Inter Milan have publicly voiced their worry for the player’s safety and well-being while he is trapped in Tehran.
For club and country, Taremi has been a consistent difference maker. He displayed his talent recently in the AFC World Cup qualifying match against North Korea. On June 10, he netted those goals in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Azadi Stadium in Tehran. Just a day after that, on 11 November 2013, he was awarded the first Iranian Toopa Award (also called Golden Ball). This illustrious accolade awarded him with a title of a best player in Iranian football history.
After his stellar performances, Taremi joined Inter Milan’s roster for the 32-team edition of the Club World Cup. The tournament starts on Tuesday, so don’t wait! Inter Miami will take on Monterrey FC in the legendary Rose Bowl Stadium, located in Pasadena, Los Angeles. With the war raging and Iran’s airspace now closed, Taremi’s ability to go is suddenly at risk.
Rumors have emerged suggesting that Taremi will miss more than just the opening match, perhaps even the entire tournament.
“The Iranian striker will not join the Nerazzurri, neither for the first match nor for the others,” – La Gazzetta dello Sport
Inter Milan has been doing everything in its power to back Taremi off the pitch to help ease his difficult transition. The club had been in constant communication with Iranian authorities in Italy during the last 24 hours. They hoped to comfort and heal, and offer new pathways toward creating solutions, but alas, none are yet possible.
“Inter have been in close contact with the Iranian authorities in Italy over the last 24 hours to comfort the player and try [to find] a solution that is currently impossible. The player is in Tehran in a safe place and sheltered from the bombings,” – La Gazzetta dello Sport
In July 2024, Mehdi Taremi signed a three-year contract with Inter Milan. Since then, he’s capped 43 times and added three goals of his own. His absence would hurt Inter’s lineup, but it would be painful to fans who have followed his inspiring journey every step of the way.
