They were delayed by security checks at airports, turning quick trips into several-hour ordeals. Outside US stadiums, they were greeted with protests, mostly driven by other Iranians.
Even in the hours before the crucial match against Egypt, news broke that the US had launched a fresh round of bombings on their homeland.
How should a team manage this unprecedented state of affairs?
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According to Taremi, the answer was simple: “Run,” he demanded of his team before a 0-0 draw with Belgium.
Run, and play without fear.
One can quibble with the technical quality of Iran’s players in their three-draw performance, but they certainly ran.
Team Melli flew headlong into challenges, aggressively closed down passing lanes, and threw themselves at anything that looked like it might eventually make it towards their goal.
Iran played tough, but fair.
They won fans from Mexico to Seattle.
Between their major efforts and their self-applied label as the “most oppressed” team in the tournament, it wasn’t hard to see why.
But were they fearless?
For crucial periods, including most of the second half against Egypt, it seemed Iran barely wanted to attack.
Iran were up a man for 24 minutes against Belgium and rarely threatened.
They allowed a New Zealand team ranked more than 60 spots below them to dictate the terms of that opener.
When waves of attacks came, it was often at the very end, as if driven by fear.
