Turkish state broadcaster TRT removed commentator Murat Ekrem Çimen from its 2026 FIFA World Cup broadcast team after he confused Iran with New Zealand during the Group G match on September 15 in Los Angeles [1, 2].
The error happened in the opening minutes of the match, where Çimen incorrectly attributed Iran's attacks to New Zealand and vice versa [1, 2]. The Group G game ended in a 2-2 draw between Iran and New Zealand [1, 2].
TRT issued a statement apologizing to viewers and the public for the mistake. "It is unacceptable for TRT that someone with over 30 years of experience in sports broadcasting would make such a mistake," the broadcaster said [1].
Çimen, who has over 30 years of sports commentary experience, was immediately removed from the World Cup broadcast team pending further investigation [1, 2].
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Iran vs New Zealand match took place at a venue in Los Angeles as part of Group G's fixtures [2].
TRT’s swift action and public apology came the day after the match, emphasizing the broadcaster's commitment to accuracy in coverage [1, 2].
