Iran Opens World Cup at SoFi With 26 Players Commuting From Mexico as War Shadows Match
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jun 14
Iran Opens World Cup at SoFi With 26 Players Commuting From Mexico as War Shadows Match
3 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jun 14
Summary
Iran opens its World Cup on Monday against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium, but all 26 players must commute from Tijuana after the team shifted its base out of Arizona.
U.S. visa restrictions forced the move: players received entry permission to compete, while several officials were denied visas and more than a dozen delegation members still cannot enter.
The Iranian federation says those denials amount to political interference that breaches U.S. hosting guarantees, while FIFA says it cannot override American border controls.
Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian population outside Iran, is bracing for a charged match atmosphere as some diaspora members plan support, others consider protests, and many families expect arguments at watch parties.
The game unfolds with the U.S. and Iran at war — the first such case for a World Cup host and a qualified team — though some Iranian Americans see the match as a rare chance for unity.