Iran opened its politically-charged World Cup 2026 campaign by playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw with New Zealand in a controversial match that saw anti-regime protests ahead of kick-off, the national anthem booed and an Iranian player forced to defend himself over a ‘gun’ celebration.
Mohammad Mohebbi snatched a point for Iran in the 64th minute and appeared to do a ‘finger gun’ gesture during his celebration, sparking outrage. Mohebbi defended his actions, saying after the game: “The celebration came to mind, and I do this [gestures] for all of the fans, just a celebration, you know.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has reportedly been given permission by Fifa to lift the World Cup trophy alongside the winners next month, as he memorably and awkwardly did at last summer’s Club World Cup, while England are preparing for their crunch opening game against Croatia on Wednesday, with Thomas Tuchel having become the perfect man for the impossible job.
Follow all the latest from World Cup 2026 with our live blog below:
Read MoreResilient Iran defy World Cup obstacles to salvage draw against New Zealand
The surreal possibility hanging over Iran’s perilous World Cup campaign
How Cape Verde pulled off an astonishing and unexpected draw with Spain
World Cup 2026 - live updates
- Resilient Iran draw 2-2 with New Zealand in their controversial World Cup opener
- The national anthem booed before kick-off with anti-regime protests held outside the ground
- Iran striker Mohammad Mohebbi defends 'gun' celebration after equalising
- Donald Trump reportedly given permission by Fifa to join winners in World Cup trophy lift
- How a German, Thomas Tuchel, became the perfect man for England's 'impossible job'
New Zealand boss admits disappointment at World Cup draw
10:11 , Luke BakerNew Zealand twice led against Iran last night but couldn’t see out the victory as they only drew 2-2 – frustrating boss Darren Bazeley.
“We created loads of chances,” Bazeley told TVNZ. “I thought we were really, good in possession, defended pretty well for the majority.
“We've come off disappointed not win a game because we're leading twice, scored two great goals, had some moments which was really good.
“It's going to hurt a little bit because we had a chance to make history tonight and win a game at a World Cup and we came really close. We didn't lose, we kept in it and played really, really well.”
The real reason why England must top their World Cup group
10:00 , Luke BakerIf the first few days of the 2026 World Cup have taught us anything, it is that predicting how the tournament will pan out makes fools of us all. Cape Verde were not meant to shut out Spain, many people’s favourites. Australia were not meant to beat a talented Turkey. Morocco were not meant to match the might of Brazil.
We can try, of course. Theoretically, there should be a material benefit in topping each group.
For England – on paper, at least – winning Group L is almost a necessity. Lawrence Ostlere explains why:
The real reason why England must top their World Cup group
Marcelo Bielsa refuses to participate in photoshoot
09:48 , Luke BakerIt’s fair to say that Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa wasn’t feeling the photoshoot he was supposed to be taking part in...
Marcelo Bielsa refused to engage with his World Cup photoshoot ❌ pic.twitter.com/IU0zLzjAYV
Donald Trump reportedly given permission to join winners in World Cup trophy lift
09:35 , Luke BakerFifa has reportedly given permission to Donald Trump to join in with the World Cup trophy lift next month, setting up a scene similar to last summer’s awkward World Club Cup trophy presentation.
It is being reported by talkSPORT that Fifa has no objection to the US president no objection to Trump breaking presentation protocol and handing the World Cup trophy directly to the winning captain, before remaining in the thick of the celebrations.
Normally, the trophy remains on a plinth and is carried by a member of the winning team onto the celebration podium.
In the Club World Cup last summer, Trump awkwardly and memorably stayed next to Chelsea captain Reece James as he lifted the trophy, causing bafflement, with Cole Palmer looking particularly confused.
Why Fifa has banned Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag at World Cup
09:26 , Luke BakerIranian-Americans initiated protests at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before Iran’s World Cup 2026 opener against New Zealand and others displayed the banned pre-revolutionary flag despite Fifa’s ban being upheld.
Some had called on Iranians to unite and forget politics but others displayed symbols of protest against the government.
Here’s why the flag is banned:
Why Fifa has banned Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag at World Cup
'Oppressed' Iran claim they were forced to leave US straight after New Zealand game
09:16 , Luke BakerIran have claimed they were forced to leave the US just minutes after completing their World Cup opener against New Zealand.
Restrictions on Iranian players entering the US mean they had to move their training base to Tijuana, Mexico and are only travelling into the United States the day before the game.
They wanted to stay overnight in Los Angeles following the game but captain Mehdi Taremi and coach Amir Ghalenoei reported that they were forced to depart almost straight after the match instead.
“Everything is like a disaster actually for us,” said Taremi after the game. “Still we have some problems because we are supposed to be training tomorrow morning – recovery – then leave for Tijuana.
“But we have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it’s not good for us. It’s not good for the football, because in World Cup, you have to prepare good for the next game.
“Because it is a lot of stress for the players and the staff and everyone. But we don’t have that support and I think Fifa have to help us more than this.”
Ghalenoei confirmed that, adding: “We were supposed to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow lunchtime, but they haven’t permitted us. To be honest, I have no idea why. I think perhaps our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup.”
Fifa issue verdict on World Cup referee’s white supremacy accusations as VAR official explains viral moment
09:01 , Luke BakerFifa World Cup 2026 official Shaun Evans has denied “intentionally” making a gesture that some perceived to be connected to an expression of white supremacy.
The Australian referee, working as part of the VAR team in Dallas at the World Cup broadcast centre, was seen making an “OK” symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg when the official broadcast of Germany against Curacao on Sunday cut away from pre-game footage to show the team of video review analysts.
The match, played in Houston, led to many complaints over the gesture, which sees a thumb and forefinger touched in a circle and other fingers outstretched and was interpreted as a hate symbol by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League in 2019.
Fifa issue verdict on World Cup referee’s white supremacy accusations
Inside Thomas Tuchel’s England reign and how the ‘impossible job’ became perfect for a German
08:48 , Luke BakerIf you want to read Miguel’s full deep dive into the Tuchel reign, then we’ve got that here.
There’s some great insight in there:
How England’s ‘impossible job’ became the perfect role for a German manager
WATCH: 'How England's impossible job became a dream job for a German: Tuchel loves it'
08:36 , Luke BakerThe role of England manager has long been described as ‘the impossible job’.
Yet Thomas Tuchel, a German, appears to be the perfect man for it as our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney explains.
Iran national anthem booed at World Cup before New Zealand game
08:29 , Luke BakerThe Iranian national anthem was booed by some spectators inside the SoFI Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday evening as Iran began their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Group G.
The match took place hours after President Donald Trump announced a preliminary US-Iran peace deal had been signed to end America’s’ war with Iran.
Iran national anthem booed at World Cup before New Zealand game
Resilient Iran defy World Cup obstacles to salvage draw against New Zealand
08:21 , Luke BakerIran drew their World Cup opener with New Zealand but emphatically won the support of the Iranian community inside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, having overcome unprecedented obstacles just to play at these finals.
The Asian team hit back twice through Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi to force a 2-2 draw, with Eli Just grabbing a brace for the All Whites.
A World Cup had never kicked off with a host at war with a participant before. Iran have faced the threat of being unable to take their place at the tournament ever since the United States and Israel launched a bombing campaign back in February, been forced to change training venue from the US to Mexico to combat visa issues, and still had 11 non-playing officials blocked from entering the States for the team’s matches.
‘Lion and Sun’ flags – the emblem of Iran before the 1979 Islamic revolution – were in evidence within the stadium despite Fifa’s efforts to ban them and there was definitely booing of the anthem before the game from Los Angeles’ Iranian diaspora in attendance.
Overwhelmingly though, the fans had decided the team were not the regime, and roared them on from the outset.
Full report:
Resilient Iran defy World Cup obstacles to salvage draw against New Zealand
Iran striker Mohammad Mohebbi defends 'gun' celebration
08:18 , Luke BakerIran's Mohammad Mohebbi has sparked outrage across social media after and apparent 'gun' celebration during last night’s 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
Many social media users spotted the nature of his celebration after pulling Iran level against the All Whites in Los Angeles but Mohebbi has defended his actions as “just a celebration”.
“I wanted to say thank you to all Iranians who live in Los Angeles, they make a great atmosphere,” he said. “The celebration came to mind, and I do this [gestures] for all of the fans, just a celebration, you know.”
World Cup 2026 - live
08:12 , Luke BakerGood morning and welcome to The Independent’s continued live coverage of the 2026 World Cup.
Iran got their campaign underway in controversial circumstances last night, while England are preparing for tomorrow’s opener against Croatia and Donald Trump is in the news again.
Stick with us for all the news
