Iran departs for World Cup opener against New Zealand in Los Angeles

Iran's national football team will travel to Los Angeles one day before its opening match at the 2026 World Cup, the Iranian Football Federation has announced. The squad will stay in Tijuana, Mexico, throughout the group stage, even though all three of its group matches will be played in the United States. Iran faces New Zealand at a Los Angeles venue on Monday, June 15, before meeting Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. According to FIFA's scheduling, the delegation will travel on a special charter flight to the United States. Federation spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi made the announcement through Iran's ISNA news agency. He said 15 members of the technical and administrative staff had not received U.S. visas in time, leaving the delegation short-handed before departure. The 2026 World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.