Iran vs New Zealand LIVE: Protests take place at Los Angeles Stadium after Donald Trump announces US-Iran peace deal | OneFootball

Iran are readying for their opening match of the World Cup 2026 after an incident heavy build-up to the tournament. Iran will face New Zealand in Group G hoping to secure a win and move to the top of the table after Belgium and Egypt played out an earlier 1-1 draw.

Iran’s captain Mehdi Taremi has criticised Fifa for the impact that his nation’s war with the US has had on preparations with the team having been forced to move their base to Mexico amid visa issues plaguing members of their delegation and travelling fans being stripped of match tickets.

Iranian protesters have also vowed to disrupt the match to show their displeasure at the brutal ruling regime, with plans to boo the anthem and turn their backs to display currently prohibited pre-revolutionary flags. If that happens, there is a chance the match could be halted, with Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei under specific instructions from the country’s government to stop play if pre-revolutionary flags are brandished or if negative chanting is audible.

This match is more than just the action on the pitch especially following Donald Trump’s announcement of a US-Iran peace agreement. Yet the players will need to distance themselves from outside noise and pressures to perform at their best.

The surreal possibility hanging over Iran’s perilous World Cup campaign

Delving into the history books, glazing over a 96-year story of international football’s top-tier event, not much looks out of place in analysing Iraq’s triumvirate of one-goal defeats at the 1986 World Cup. Nor Argentina’s disappointing second group stage exit in 1982, when Diego Maradona first flirted with the globe’s greatest stage. Yet their significance, some four decades on, is now pertinent as the tournament takes place in the United States.

Back then, Argentina and Iraq were two countries competing in the World Cup while embroiled in international warfare. Argentina surrendered in the Falklands War just one day after Spain ‘82 started and, mercifully, did not draw any of the three British teams taking part, while Iraq were in the midst of an eight-year war with Iran at Mexico ‘86. Tension between the two remains ubiquitous. Yet beyond civil conflicts, there have been no comparable examples since. “Football unites the world,” is the tired slogan continually belted out by Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Well, not this time.

Chris Wilson16 June 2026 01:44

Taremi speaks on preparations

“I have felt the tension from the first moment we arrived at this World Cup,” said Taremi ahead of Iran’s opening game.

“This kind of tension, it undermines that joy and it undermines the message of Fifa and our people, which is that football brings about peace. I feel like this World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than it has, but I hope in the future it will be better for all fans, whatever team they are supporting in the World Cup,” he added.

Why Fifa has banned Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag at World Cup 2026

Iranian Americans initiated protests at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before Iran’s World Cup 2026 opener against New Zealand and others displayed the banned pre-revolutionary flag despite Fifa’s ban being upheld.

Some had called on Iranians to unite and forget politics ⁠but others displayed symbols of protest against the government.

After flying to the USA on Sunday from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, a deal was announced to end the U.S.-Iran war. Los Angeles is the biggest home to the Iranian community outside of Iran after many fled the country following the Islamic Revolution.

The World Cup 2026 has left fans split, with some excited to see their team play football on the biggest stage of the sport, though others remain overwhelmingly angry at Tehran's crackdown on protesters, with concern over Washington's bombing campaign.

Why Fifa has banned Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag at World Cup

The pre-revolutionary flag has been used by Iranians, in the USA and worldwide, as a symbol of protest and standing against the current regime

Jack Rathborn16 June 2026 01:31

Trump says US-Iran peace deal signed but Israel rules out withdrawing from Lebanon

Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end America’s’ war with Iran has been signed by both sides as Israel vowed to keep its forces in Lebanon.

“The deal's all signed,” Trump said on Monday after ⁠he arrived in France for a summit of the G7 group of wealthy nations, adding that his vice president JD Vance would attend a formal signing ceremony in Geneva on Friday.

The agreement will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend a ceasefire for 60 days, allowing negotiations on issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions.

Chris Wilson16 June 2026 01:27

Iran train ahead of World Cup bow

(Getty)

(Getty)

Chris Wilson16 June 2026 01:21

World Cup Insider: Get a matchday briefing from our writers in the US, Canada and Mexico

The biggest tournament in football is finally here.

Over six weeks, 48 nations will battle it out across the United States, Canada and Mexico, producing unforgettable moments, dramatic upsets, tactical masterclasses and plenty of controversy along the way.

But with matches taking place across multiple time zones and headlines arriving around the clock, keeping up with everything that matters will be a challenge.

That's where our World Cup Insider newsletter comes in.

Landing in your inbox every morning throughout the tournament, World Cup Insider is your essential guide to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Designed to cut through the noise, it brings together the key stories, standout moments and expert analysis you need to stay on top of the action.

Chris Wilson16 June 2026 01:16