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World Cup opening day, Iran draws New Zealand; Cabo Verde holds Spain

sportsJun 16, 2026428,440

Iran twice came from behind to draw New Zealand 2-2 in their World Cup opener in Los Angeles. Cabo Verde stunned defending champion Spain with a 0-0 draw in its World Cup debut, upending early group expectations. At Iran’s match fans unfurled anti-regime signs while FIFA upheld a ban on the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag, and tournament organizers required Iran’s squad to fly back to Tijuana immediately after the game, creating visa and recovery concerns. The results and the protests matter because they fuse surprising sporting outcomes with political tensions, forcing many Iranian Americans to weigh pride in the team against opposition to Tehran’s government.

mimij9.bsky.social
@mimij9.bsky.social

Iran v. New Zealand ended around 8pm in Los Angeles. At 10:07pm, Iran players were on a bus bound for the airport, where they'd fly back to Tijuana. World Cup organizers wouldn't let them stay and recover. This is completely unacceptable. FIFA should not be a political wing of the US Government.

650145d ago
Carla Prince ❤️‍🔥157

and this is why I hope Iran make a deeper run in the tournament than the US.

Jack Churchill's Arrow94

And the fucking brass neck of Infantino to go into the Iran team's changing room and give them a load of fucking flannel about how proud they should all be...while he does fuck all to ensure they are treated fairly...he makes Berlusconi look humble in comparison.

Womble195879

The most racist and discriminatory World Cup ever is happening under Trump of course 😒🤮

jessicamullen.bsky.social78

Those players are safer in Mexico.

Sokyle2 🇺🇸 🇰🇷 🇫🇷 🇺🇦 🇹🇭 🇹🇼 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️51

I am embarrassed to be an American right now

foghornleghorn1357.bsky.social43

Hey US: If you don't want people here, don't host world events!

As Sparks Fly Upwards30

The fix is in. One way or another, non-US teams are going to be hobbled, sabotaged and clipped. Fat Donnie doesn't want to present that trophy to a team who aren't going to leave it in his tiny, bruised mitts.

notrumpnoway.bsky.social21

FIFA IS CORRUPT SND ANTI-CLIMATE!

generallygeneric.bsky.social19

To be fair, the Iranian players shouldn't want to stay here. I wouldn't put it past Trump's ICE goons to fuck with them. They're safer in Tijuana than the USA. There's a sentence you would have never expected to see 2 years ago...

Burnt2Death12

It is indeed 1936 Berlin 😌

Sons of Coachella9

... Infantino is following orders from Trump. Consider why he had to give Trump that fake Peace prize award ...

Matato'a Brian 🗿🗿🗿8

But FIFA is a tool of every corrupt government to which it has awarded world cups - e.g., Russia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, USA. All it requires in return is money - preferably by the billions.

Gringo8

Shameful. Petty. Ignorant. That’s us. In the eyes of the world.

JoanieP18

So instead of showing them American good manners, we showed them stupidity.

TXStranger8

They knew what they were getting into when awarding the games to the US under this administration.

Judi G5

USA is a fascist state. They should not be allowed to host any international events.

Otis Redfoot5

I thought they were a political wing of who ever let them suck money out of people's wallets.

Keith Rawlinson 🇵🇸 🇺🇳 🇺🇦 🏳️‍🌈 🇦🇺4

#FIFA is almost as corrupt as the #EpsteinRegime

Pete H4

Fifa has been a political wing for the highest bidder for 20 years now.

Panama Red4

I agree with you, but given that FIFA has already given Trump a fake peace prize, I think that train has left the station.

gman8990.bsky.social4

🖕the trump regime and fifa🖕

blandydayz.bsky.social4

Ummm, they are as corrupt as the current US regime (will not call this nonsense a government) so......

Dona Flaca4

FIFA AS CORRUPT AS ITS ALWAYS BEEN. Nothing to see here. 😒

☆Jennїe S Jonzen☆ Is He Dead Yet?! 🖖LLAP🤟🍀✴️✳️🌟☘️🇺🇸🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈🌈🌻💙💛⭐️4

The same FIFA that created a fake peace prize to appease an orange evil idiot?

🇨🇦Summer_breeze🇲🇸🇨🇦4

All countries should have boycotted this fiasco.

DitDahDahDah3

What do we expect? The head of FIFA is in the pocket of trumpf and as big a crook as he is.

CC3

Due to visa and political issues, the team relocated its camp from Arizona to Tijuana and has been commuting into the U.S. for matches before returning to Mexico.

KimmRussell3

Gianni is in the right front pocket of trump. Trump admitted on his own during a news conference with Gianni Infantino in March 2025, on camera said "They rigged the election, and I became president." Later Gianni gave him a "piece" prize. Complicit and should be investigated.

Kathryn3

They’re safer out of the country.

Get off the cross, we need the wood 🤪😀👿🇵🇸3

I hate the #USA right now and as for #FIFA... scum, corrupt scum who consort with dictators and mass murderers. This is not what #football #soccer was meant to be.

larryg49.bsky.social3

Fuck FIFA and Trump! From an Ashkenazi American Family! Wrong is fucking wrong! Shalom

grimmrad 🧬🎼🖼️🏛️3

You mean FIFA? That create a "Peace Prize" for a certain president? THAT FIFA?

Artemis1653

What a pathetic disgrace this Trump regime is!

QP-Iain3

FIFA seems to become more corrupt with each passing leader. Disgusting organisation.

Trace Taylor & the Creative Educators' Coop3

Like I said before— fuck FIFA

Cinders3

Absolutely! How ridiculous and simply embarrassing for We the People!

dod-gammit.bsky.social2

I'm not expert on this topic but didn't the FIFA leader help in politicizing all this?

Annette Shaffer🇨🇦😷2

Are we sure they just didn't want to flee the US before ICE snagged them?

Bruce2

It is a (not so) subtle form of cheating

Jayneinspain2

We'll, it's not a fair competition then. Was never going to be.

peteferg2

Infantino needs to go. The Trump "peace prize" farrago showed his true colours.

Jim2

Not trying to shit on your point, but most away teams leave the city right after their game. I'm talking NFL/MLB/etc. Not sure why the World Cup would be any different with teams returning to their home base right after their game rather than staying in a hotel for the night.

GMA2

They should have boycotted to begin with- I feel for them to be treated the way they are - I’m ashamed

welshgirl.bsky.social2

Lucky they didn’t make them drive the 2 Hrs down to the Border. That would have been really cruel

emeraldcross.bsky.social2

TRUMPF, MILLER, HOMAN AND RUBIO ARE HORRIBLE PEOPLE. THIS IS SO UNACCEPTABLE. WILL THEY DO THE SAME FOR THE LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS??

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