Iran’s World Cup team arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, June 14, 2026, after traveling from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, marking the first time since 1930 that a host nation received a team it is at war with [1].

The Iranian squad played its Group G opening match against New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium on Monday, June 15. The match ended in a 2-2 draw after New Zealand twice took the lead before Iran equalized twice [1, 2].

Following the game, the Iranian team was asked to leave the United States immediately and return to Mexico, disrupting their planned overnight recovery. Coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed frustration, saying, “We were really troubled after being told we must leave immediately… We were not given time to recover” [2].

It remains unclear whether the order came from FIFA, US tournament officials, or US government personnel [2]. Iran had previously moved its base camp from Arizona to Mexico in late May after US and Israeli joint strikes on Iran in February 2026 [1].

Iranian-American activists planned protests near the stadium on June 14 to highlight human rights abuses by the Iranian government [1]. During the match, some Iranian-American fans booed the Iranian national anthem and wore pre-revolutionary Iranian flags, despite FIFA rules banning political symbols [2].

Player Ramin Rezaeian won Player of the Match honors and thanked supporters in Mexico but noted difficulties, saying, “It’s so difficult to train in Mexico and play in LA… We’re not happy today because I think we deserve to win the game” [2]. Goal scorer Mohammad Mohebi added that arriving only the day before the match left the team tired, commenting, “These kinds of things, I think, are not a little bit fair” [2].

The team’s prompt departure from US soil shortly after the match marks a rare and tense moment at the 2026 World Cup, held in the United States.

Iran’s next scheduled matches and activities will take place outside the US, following their return to their Mexican base camp on June 15, after their forced departure from Los Angeles [2].