Iran's World Cup debut marred by rushed departure and logistical woes

Iran's national soccer team opened the World Cup with a 2–2 draw against New Zealand in Inglewood, Los Angeles. Both sides scored twice in a tightly contested match.

After the game, Iranian officials ordered the squad to fly straight to its base in Tijuana, Mexico, canceling plans to stay the night in California. Coach Amir Ghalenoei said the team received no time to recover, calling the arrangements "catastrophic" and blaming visa delays, heavy security checks and broader geopolitical tension with the United States.

The draw leaves Iran level on points in Group G and sets up a next group match against Belgium. New Zealand also stays in the group with its own 2–2 result. The incident highlights how off‑field logistical and political issues are affecting the team’s World Cup preparation.