In a thrilling World Cup opener held in Los Angeles, Iran showcased resilience by coming from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw against New Zealand. The match unfolded against a politically charged backdrop, with Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, watching from the VIP section as Donald Trump announced a peace deal just hours earlier.

On the pitch, Iran's players focused on football despite the chaos surrounding them. Goals from Mohammad Mohebbi and Ramin Rezaeian negated a brace from Eli Just, who initially put New Zealand ahead twice. The energetic Iranian crowd, filled with supporters from the large Iranian-American community, provided a much-needed boost for the players, as captain Mehdi Taremi noted the joy that had been missing in recent months.

The game was marked by significant political undertones:

• 11 Iranian officials were denied entry into the US, forcing the team to shift their base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico.
• Tensions remained high with protests against the Iranian government outside the stadium, where demonstrators displayed pre-revolutionary flags despite FIFA's ban on political symbols.

Despite a challenging start, with Just scoring for New Zealand just seven minutes in, Iran fought back. Rezaeian equalized with a well-placed shot after a clever assist from Saman Ghoddos. Just restored New Zealand's lead in the second half, but Mohebbi's late header ensured Iran left the pitch with a hard-fought draw, sharing the sentiment of resilience and hope amid adversity.