Why Team Iran Is in a Tough Spot at the World Cup

NYT World Tuesday 16 June 2026, 04:26 UTC By Tariq Panja 1 min read

Key Points

Protesters outside of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Monday.

the World Cup Protesters (EVENT) SoFi Stadium (LOCATION) Inglewood (LOCATION) Calif. (LOCATION)

Originally published by NYT World Read original →

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei called his team perhaps the "most repressed team in the whole World Cup," after he said they have been forced to leave Los Angeles and return to their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, immediately following their opening match. After perhaps the most strained buildup for any team in the long history of the World Cup, Iran finally took the pitch on Monday at SoFi Stadium, drawing 2-2 with New Zealand in their politically charged opener. But Ghalenoei...

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Why Team Iran Is in a Tough Spot at the World Cup

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