Protests and tension threatened to turn match into political flashpoint

Flag bans, travel headaches and a religious regime video among bumps in road, as team prepares to be first to play in country with which it is at war

By Rory CarrollLOS ANGELES, June 13 (Reuters) - Iran open their World Cup Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday in a match shaped as much by events off the…

LOS ANGELES/TIJUANA, Mexico, June 14 : Iran's soccer team arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday after a short flight from Tijuana, Mexico, where they left their…

Iran's football team touched down at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday afternoon, landing just hours before a peace deal between the US and Iran was formally announced.…

Iran's national men's football team arrived in the United States on Sunday, June 15. | Football News

Protests and tension threatened to turn match into political flashpoint

Iran arrive in Los Angeles for World Cup opener amid a new US-Iran peace deal, visa issues and political protests ahead of their match vs New Zealand.

LOS ANGELES: Iran will take centre stage at the World Cup on Monday (Jun 15) after arriving in the United States following a build-up shrouded by uncertainty due to war in the…

As Iran play New Zealand in Los Angeles, Iranian Americans are divided between stadium protests and watch parties, reflecting deep political and diaspora tensions.

Iran's football team arrives in the U.S. amid a historic peace deal, as protests highlight ongoing human rights concerns.

Iran will kick off their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in the early hours of Tuesday morning amid a scarcely believable backdrop of war with the host nation

Iran is beginning its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles after being forced to train in Tijuana, with players allowed into the US only for matches and many…

A divisive collision of geopolitics and sports is playing out in a community with emotional ties to two countries at war, setting the stage for drama and protest that will go…

Everything you need to know ahead of Iran’s controversial World Cup opener

Iran start their World Cup campaign in Los Angeles on Monday against New Zealand but the team will have to deal with protests from activists both prior to and during the fixture

Iran's 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match on Monday has become the backdrop for a fresh display of political tensions, with protesters and...

Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei and star forward Mehdi Taremi insisted their squad will be playing for all Iranians at the FIFA World Cup

Iranian-American protesters gathered near SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as Iran faced New Zealand in its 2026 World Cup opener, waving pre-revolutionary

LOS ANGELES, June 15 : The Iran soccer team were preparing to play their first match at this year's World Cup in Los Angeles on Monday, with protests expected by the city's large…

After uncertainty over their participation and a disrupted build-up, Iran are set to begin their World Cup campaign.