Iran vs New Zealand kicks off at World Cup 2026 in Los Angeles

Iran and New Zealand are underway at Los Angeles Stadium in their 2026 World Cup group stage match. Iran's preparations have been severely disrupted — visa issues, entry complications, and a base in Tijuana across the border — making their participation in a US-hosted tournament one of the tournament's defining political stories. Iran's ability to compete at all has been in question throughout the tournament, with ongoing US-Iran tensions turning a group stage fixture into one of the most politically charged matches in recent World Cup history.