Iranian football legend Khodadad Azizi has urged football to promote peace and remain separate from politics, amid tensions surrounding the World Cup.
Azizi, who played in Iran's first World Cup match against the United States in 1998, expressed his concerns as Iran prepares to play their first match at the co-hosted tournament in the US.
Iran will face New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, hoping to reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
Azizi recalled the 1998 match, where players exchanged flowers and Iranian handicrafts, and said football should be a symbol of peace.
However, he criticized FIFA for not doing enough to prevent politics from interfering with the tournament, and expressed regret that the atmosphere at the current tournament is "filled with nothing but politics".
Azizi also dismissed criticism from Iranian dissidents who accuse the team of representing the authorities rather than the public.
