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Iran’s remarkable 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign has become one of the tournament’s most compelling stories, with Team Melli keeping their knockout qualification hopes alive after holding Belgium to a scoreless draw on Sunday despite playing under extraordinary logistical constraints imposed by the United States.
The result left Iran unbeaten after two ‘Group G’ matches and firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stage, turning attention not only to their performances on the pitch but also to the challenges they have faced away from it.
Based in Tijuana, Mexico, after being forced to relocate from Tucson, Arizona, because of US visa and security restrictions linked to the recent West Asia conflict, the Iranian squad has spent much of the tournament navigating obstacles that no other team has encountered.
While Belgium arrived in Los Angeles with a star-studded squad featuring Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, Iran’s players entered the match after another round of cross-border travel and security procedures. Yet Team Melli emerged with a valuable point that reinforced their reputation as one of the tournament’s most resilient sides.
