Iran set for World Cup opener hours after US-Iran peace deal
Iran will begin its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against New Zealand just hours after Tehran and Washington announced an agreement to end more than 100 days of conflict.
The Group G match is scheduled to be played in Los Angeles, one of the host cities for the tournament being staged by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The conflict has already affected Iran’s preparations for the tournament.
Iranian media reported that the team was forced to relocate its training base from Tucson to Tijuana during the fighting, meaning players must now cross an international border to reach each of their group-stage matches in the United States.
The fixture comes as attention remains focused on the newly announced agreement between Iran and the United States and its wider regional implications.