Iran blast – Iran’s Mehdi Taremi and Mohammad Mohebi hit out at FIFA and U.S. authorities after their 2-2 draw with New Zealand, saying the team was forced to leave immediately and fly back to their base in Tijuana against their wishes. Elsewhere, Cape Verde stunned Spain
Iran’s World Cup started with football drama—and quickly turned into a fight over who controls the team’s next steps.
After their 2-2 draw with New Zealand on Monday night at SoFi Stadium. striker Mehdi Taremi launched a blistering attack on Iran’s treatment from tournament organisers. describing it as “like disaster actually for us.” He said the players were being forced to leave immediately and return to their base in Tijuana “right now. ” even though they had been expecting time for recovery before training the following morning.
Taremi insisted the situation was not just inconvenient for the squad, but harmful to preparation. “In World Cup. you have to prepare good for the next game. ” he said. adding that the delay and the lack of support created stress “for the players and the staff and everyone.” He also argued FIFA should do more to help Iran.
The comments landed after weeks of tension before kick-off. Donald Trump had warned Iran not to play “for their ‘own life and safety’.” Iran then moved their base from Arizona to Mexico; nearly a dozen members of their delegation were denied visas; and Iran officials sent FIFA a list of conditions before agreeing to play.
When the tournament anthem rolled around at SoFi Stadium, Iran’s reception came mixed—boos, whistles and cheers—while the host nation has never seen a situation where a World Cup host nation was at war with one of the visitors.
On the pitch, Iran entered as heavy favourites but fell behind twice to the lowest-ranked team of the tournament. Winger Elijah Just twice put the All Whites in front before goals from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi levelled the match.
After the final whistle, head coach Amir Ghalenoei and Taremi both attacked the treatment Iran received from organisers. Taremi claimed Iran’s players asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino why they were being kicked out. saying: “He just wants to help us.” He added that Infantino told them: “It’s the beginning of the World Cup now. and he will help us… we believe everything.”.
Mohammad Mohebi said the treatment was not “fair. ” while Ghalenoei echoed the players’ belief that they were told “we had to leave immediately.” Ghalenoei also said: “It’s very important for us to have time for recovery and yet we were asked to return to Tijuana and we are reality troubled by that… we do not know why they are returning us. I think it’s very strange.”.
While Iran wrestled with the fallout off the field, Monday’s other matches delivered a different kind of shock—one that felt built for underdog stories.
Cape Verde opened their World Cup with a 0-0 draw against Spain in Group H. producing the kind of result that turned Atlanta into a celebration for a nation with a population of just under 500. 000. Spain entered as favourites and had 27 shots and 74 per cent possession, yet they couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was the reason the game stayed level. The 40-year-old—who currently plays for Chaves in the Portuguese second tier—was described as the hero. and his performance was so striking that he gained more than a million followers on Instagram during the game. At full-time, Vozinha was left emotional.
His post-match emotion came through immediately. Speaking after being named Player of the Match, Vozinha paid tribute to his late grandparents and his mother, who couldn’t be there in the U.S. due to a visa issue.
The support behind the result was loud and constant. Cape Verde’s supporters whipped up a deafening noise whenever their side made a vital block or emerged from their own half. After holding on for a historic stalemate, celebrations spilled into the streets as supporters prepared to dance through the night.
Spain left frustrated with the stalemate, and the tournament’s narrative shifted again around them: a day that began with expectations of dominance ended with Spain forced to settle for a draw.
Another match in Group G saw Belgium and Egypt share the points after a 1-1 draw. Egypt led for 46 minutes thanks to a magnificent strike from distance by Emam Ashour that nestled into the bottom corner. But they were undone when Mohamed Hany turned the ball into his own net while trying to deal with Romelu Lukaku. who had been a nuisance and arrived at the end of Thomas Meunier’s cross just seconds after coming off the bench.
The game in Seattle was even, with both teams missing two big chances, but Egypt will look back on the missed chance to secure a maiden World Cup victory. Their wait now extends to eight matches.
Saudi Arabia’s story played out in Miami as they matched Uruguay in a 1-1 draw in Group H. Saudi Arabia began quickly, with Abdulelah Al Amri putting them ahead just before half-time after reacting fastest to a loose ball in the box.
Uruguay’s response came in the second half. Their assault eventually delivered in the 80th minute, when Maxi Araujo equalised. Manuel Ugarte then struck the post, and Saudi keeper Mohammed Al-Owais made nine saves as the spoils were shared.
And for a tournament already full of moments, the day’s headlines weren’t confined to the pitch.
Several England players fell foul to a prank by an American TikToker in Kansas City, after training. The TikToker printed multiple copies of the Declaration of Independence—adopted on July 4. 1776—then got players including Harry Kane. Bukayo Saka. Anthony Gordon and Elliot Anderson to sign it. The clip. published by user lex_life2749. had 168. 000 views at the time of writing. and the video ended with the caption “MISSION SUCCESSFUL.”.
There was also a separate viral moment after Maxi Araujo equalised for Uruguay late on Monday evening, when cameras panned to celebrating South American fans and one individual was cuddling a baby who appeared barely older than a few weeks.
Celebrity sightings added their own glow. Diego Forlan and Diego Godin were pictured in the stands for Uruguay’s 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia. kitted out in sharp suits. while Brazil icon Ronaldo was also spotted in Miami. A photo of Ronaldo Nazario watching Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay circulated from DAZN Football’s post. marking another day where former players showed up in person.
The stats of the day came down hardest on Spain’s dominance. Despite Spain’s 27 shots and 74 per cent possession against Cape Verde. Cape Verde conceded just one foul—the fewest by any team in a World Cup match since 1966. The day also carried a personal frustration for Luis De La Fuente’s side: forward Mikel Oyarzabal became the first player since 1966 to play the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match and fail to touch the ball once.
As the tournament rolls toward the next set of fixtures, the focus is now on what comes next.
One of the big themes shaping conversations is the structure. With the World Cup expanding to 48 teams and 32 progressing to the knockout stages—and with eight of the 12 third-place teams still going through—fans have complained there’s less jeopardy. Still, Group I has been framed as a different beast.
France, AFCON champions Senegal, a new-look Norway side with Erling Haaland, and Iraq—ranked 57th in the world—set up what’s been dubbed the “Group of Death.”
The day’s games begin with France vs Senegal at 8pm in New Jersey on the BBC. France open their campaign with a squad that includes Ousmane Dembélé. Desire Doue. Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappé. with Didier Deschamps in what has been framed as his last tournament as manager. Senegal bring recent momentum too, including beating England 3-1 in a friendly at the City Ground last summer.
Also on the schedule is Iraq vs Norway at 11pm in Foxborough on ITV, an opening day look for Erling Haaland at a World Cup. Norway are appearing at the tournament for the first time since 1998, with Martin Ødegaard, Oscar Bobb and Antonio Nusa among the attacking names.
Argentina start their campaign against Algeria at 2am in Kansas City on ITV. The reigning World Cup champions have also won the last two Copa Americas. and Lionel Messi is set to play his sixth World Cup—joint-record alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa. Algeria have entered this tournament having lost just one game in 19 since the start of September last year.
Austria vs Jordan follows at 5am in Santa Clara on BBC, marking Austria’s first World Cup appearance since 1998. Ralf Rangnick’s side qualified automatically after losing just once in eight games. Jordan are one of four debutants at the tournament. and the week promises to be a memorable stretch for a country that were once managed by Harry Redknapp for a short period in 2016.
For Iran, the next question is immediate: whether the off-field fight over travel and preparation becomes a defining storyline as they try to recover from a 2-2 result that already hurt on the scoreboard—and now threatens to damage the rhythm of their tournament.
World Cup 2026 Iran vs New Zealand Mehdi Taremi Mohammad Mohebi FIFA U.S. authorities Cape Verde vs Spain Vozinha Belgium vs Egypt Romelu Lukaku Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay Maxi Araujo France vs Senegal Iraq vs Norway Argentina vs Algeria Austria vs Jordan
FIFA always acting like they own everything.
So they just had to leave right after the 2-2? That sounds messed up. Like why would they do that to the players, that’s literally the opposite of recovery.
Wait I thought Tijuana was in Mexico so how is the US authorities even involved? Feels like Iran blaming FIFA but really this is US border/immigration stuff or something. Or maybe FIFA is the one making teams do the flights? Idk seems like politics either way.
This whole World Cup is drama drama drama. First Cape Verde Spain fight whatever, now Iran mad at FIFA and the US like it’s a hostage situation. I mean if you’re playing at SoFi you can’t just chill forever, right? But also forcing them to fly back immediately does sound rough. They’re probably just trying to control the narrative because 2-2 isn’t great.