Iranian forward Mehdi Taremi is set to miss the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with Inter Milan, after being stranded in Iran due to escalating tensions with Israel. The conflict has led to Iran closing its airspace, effectively preventing Taremi from boarding a flight to the United States, where the tournament is being held.
Taremi had returned home after captaining Iran in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier victory against North Korea on June 10. He was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles and join the Inter Milan squad directly, but deteriorating regional security conditions forced Iranian authorities to shut down civilian flights.
Sources close to Inter Milan have confirmed that the club considers it extremely unlikely Taremi will arrive in time for any of their matches. Inter’s opening game is scheduled against Mexico’s Monterrey on June 18 in Pasadena, followed by matches against River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds in the group stage.
Taremi, who joined Inter in 2024 after a successful stint at FC Porto, has made 43 appearances this season, scoring three goals and assisting seven. Despite his modest numbers, he has become a trusted rotational forward under head coach Cristian Chivu.
His absence adds pressure on Inter’s attacking unit, with Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martínez both expected to carry the load. Young backup strikers Francesco Pio Esposito and Valentín Carboni are dealing with injury concerns, narrowing Chivu’s options for the tournament.
Taremi is reportedly safe and sheltering in Tehran, but unless airspace restrictions are lifted or an alternative evacuation route is arranged, he will remain unavailable for the entirety of the Club World Cup.
As the geopolitical crisis continues to escalate, football remains another arena impacted by the instability — a reminder that global sports events are never fully isolated from real-world conflicts.
Discussion about this post