View the Iran vs. New Zealand game played on June 15, 2026. Box score, stats, play-by-play timeline, highlights, odds & more

Iranian officials say technical staff have been denied visas, hours after the US said players could enter the country.

Iran's soccer team arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, where they received a warm welcome and are now gearing up for cross-border commutes to the U.S. for every World Cup match.

The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, is the biggest yet. The 48-team tournament, comprising 104 games, kicks off Thursday and anticipation is growing. But, it has been a contentious build-up.

The U.S.-Iran war is forcing FIFA to navigate a diplomatic and logistical mess before the World Cup even kicks off Thursday. Why it matters: Iranians are largely banned from traveling to the U.S. right now,