For Iranian immigrants, many whose lives are shaped by exile, revolution and political upheaval, rooting for Team Melli has never been straightforward.

Small fenced off areas labeled "designated protest zone" popped up around Seattle Stadium ahead of the World Cup. Here's what the deal is.

Unions and other groups plan to demonstrate at the capital’s World Cup stadium, adding tension as the much-watched event begins.

Motherwell star Elijah Just scored a brace but Iran came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in a match overshadowed by protests.

The game, like matches dating to the first World Cup in 1930, will be played in the shadow of politics and current events, including January’s brutal government repression of protests in Iran, the United States and Israel’s war in the region and word of a peace agreement announced over the weekend.

Dozens of Iran supporters at the World Cup defied FIFA’s ban by displaying the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag inside SoFi Stadium — giving the soccer org’s ruling a big middle finger. Ahead of Iran’s World Cup opener against New Zealand on Monday,

The opening game in Mexico City took place amid weeks of protests from groups including teachers’ unions complaining about pay and pensions.

Violence erupted outside the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City as anti-government protesters clashed with riot police near the stadium.