In the city that is home to the largest Iranian community outside the Middle East, the Iran team takes the field this Sunday (21), at 4 pm, against Belgium looking for its first triumph in the 2026 World Cup.
In addition to the challenge on the field, the team faces another dispute behind the scenes of the tournament: on Friday (19), according to the EFE agency, the Iranian federation filed a complaint with FIFA against the restrictions imposed by the United States on citizens of the country during the World Cup.
For Iranian leaders, this restriction compromises the group’s acclimatization and rest.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei publicly criticized the situation. “We were supposed to come to Los Angeles two nights before this game, but they didn’t allow us. It was our plan to stay here tonight, recover and return the next day, but again they didn’t let us, and I don’t know why. The Iranian team is perhaps the most oppressed in the history of World Cups,” he said.
The coach also complained about the absence of part of the coaching staff, which forced the coaches themselves to accumulate administrative duties during the match. Furthermore, the delegation had to leave the USA shortly after the match against New Zealand, on Monday (15).
On the field, the 2-2 draw with the Oceania team was not a good result, as New Zealand is, in theory, the weakest rival in Group G.
Even so, Iran will take to the field this Sunday in second place in the group, behind only the New Zealanders themselves (who are leaders based on the criterion of fewer yellow cards taken).
This happens because, in the other match in Group G, Belgium and Egypt were 1-1 and, therefore, have scored fewer goals.
If equality against the group’s weakest selection was disappointing, the performance brought some positive signs. A team recognized for its defensive solidity, Iran created chances and played a more open match than usual — even though the goals conceded exposed weaknesses that will need to be corrected against a technically superior rival.
With thousands of Iranians expected in the stands, the duel in Los Angeles, which has one of the largest Iranian communities in the world, many established in the USA after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, is the chance for the Persian team to shift the focus from off-field discussions to the results on the field. A victory would bring her closer to historic classification.
On the other hand, Belgium is also looking to establish itself in the competition. Group favorites, the European team did not transform their dominance over Egypt in their debut into victory. Thus, he reaches the second round under pressure. The squad combines more experienced names, such as Courtois and Kevin de Bruyne, with young talents such as Doku, Manchester City’s speedy winger.
Egypt and New Zealand also take the field on Sunday
Later, at 10pm, Egypt and New Zealand face off at BC Place in Vancouver. The New Zealanders, 82nd in the FIFA rankings (of the World Cup participants, only Haiti, 83rd, has a worse position), are looking for their first victory in a World Cup. They have already competed in two others (1982 and 2010).
Egypt arrives motivated by the draw against Belgium. Led by Mohamed Salah, the Egyptians are in their fifth participation in the tournament and are trying to progress from the group stage for the first time.
