Iran midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi acknowledged the mental toll of preparing for the World Cup while his country remains at war with the United States, this tournament's primary host. 'To be honest, it's not easy,' the 29-year-old said, reflecting on how political tensions affect both players and supporters back home.

This marks an unprecedented situation in nearly a century of World Cup history - no host nation has ever been at war with a participating country. Visa complications forced Iran's training base relocation from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, where the squad has camped for two weeks before heading to Mexico this weekend.

Iran opens against New Zealand on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, then faces Belgium and Egypt in Group G. The Los Angeles venue houses one of the largest Iranian diaspora communities, many opposing the current government, creating added pressure for the players.

Ezatolahi emphasized the team's duty to represent Iran and bring joy to their people during difficult times. Despite the extraordinary political circumstances, both he and teammate Mohammad Ghorbani stressed their commitment to performing on football's biggest stage.