Iran's World Cup history has long mirrored the country's upheavals, but the 2026 tournament is on a different level.
Team Melli's opener against New Zealand comes just a day after US President Donald Trump said he had reached a deal with the Iranian government, signaling a potential end to the three-and-a-half month conflict.
The cheetah's will also play their first game in Los Angeles, the Californian city nicknamed "Tehrangeles" and home to a largely anti-Iranian government diaspora.
Back in the Middle East, support for the national team, seen by some as representing the government more than the people, is also debatable, especially after the government reportedly killed thousands earlier this year who had taken to the streets in protest.
It's safe to say, then, that this is an unprecedented situation for any team, and the 11 men on the pitch are caught in the middle.
