Two Iranian 'super fans' in US for 11th World Cup, hope to see Iran face hosts

Two Iranian men who say they have followed Iran's national football team to 11 World Cups are watching this year's tournament from the United States. Reza Mansoor and Mostafa Pourmand, based in San Diego for the past 50 years, told AFP that their real hope for the 2026 World Cup is to see Iran play the host nation, the United States. Mansoor said he believes Iran has a strong chance of advancing from a group that includes New Zealand, Egypt and Belgium. To do so, Iran would need to reach the knockout stage for the first time in its World Cup history. The two fans said they have already bought tickets for the elimination rounds in case Iran progresses. Mansoor also pointed to ongoing missile and drone attacks around the Strait of Hormuz, saying an Iran-United States match could contribute to peace even on the pitch. Pourmand added that military tensions should not be allowed to cast a shadow over football.