That is the Iran and New Zealand’s first assembly at a FIFA World Cup. Each sailed via qualification stage, with Iran shedding just one recreation in a 16-match occasion whereas New Zealand reached a 3rd finals on the again of a flawless marketing campaign in Oceania.
Scroll all the way down to learn updates from the FIFA World Cup 2026 recreation between Iran and New Zealand.
Arising, Iran on US soil: Pressure, safety – and divided followers
Iran followers wave as gamers arrive in Tijuana, Mexico, for the World Cup. (AP Picture/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles has one other title. Iranians name it Tehrangeles, residence to the most important focus of Iranians outdoors Iran itself. On Monday night, it levels a soccer match not like any in World Cup historical past: involving a rustic engaged in a navy battle with the host nation till a day earlier than the sport. Iran face New Zealand on Monday whereas a peace deal between Iran and USA was agreed on Sunday.
The deal however, Iranian gamers will cross over into the US from their base in Mexico’s Tijuana the day earlier than their video games, play the match, and return to Mexico the identical evening. These are the logistics of battle, in a match constructed for peace.
“I’ve been to a few World Cups and so they all the time say, when you get off the airplane and enter the host nation, there’s only a distinctive ambiance of friendliness and globalness,” striker Mehdi Taremi, who will play in his third World Cup, mentioned from Tijuana final week. “Sadly, I’m not feeling it proper now. There’s lots of stress. You are feeling it within the ambiance.”
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