Iran team downplays protests: We aren't political
Key takeaways
- Iran's squad touched down in Los Angeles on Sunday for the first of three Group G fixtures that are to be staged in the United States.
- "The Iranian nation, we respect each and every one of the Iranians."
- Mehdi Taremi has over 100 caps for the Iranian national team ahead of the start of the 2026 World Cup.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Iran's squad touched down in Los Angeles on Sunday for the first of three Group G fixtures that are to be staged in the United States. Monday's meeting with the Kiwis is set to be followed by an encounter with Belgium also in Los Angeles on June 21 then a clash with Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Iran's meeting with New Zealand will take place against a backdrop of a conflict that began in February when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran -- hostilities that were the subject of a reported peace deal on Sunday -- and visa processing issues that forced the squad to relocate its training camp from Arizona to Mexico and prevented several staff members from entering the United States.
The city of Los Angeles has the largest Iranian population in the United States, and reports have indicated that tens of thousands could stage protests outside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California ahead of Team Melli's opening game.