World Cup 2026 LIVE: Iran striker sparks outrage with ‘gun’ celebration in New Zealand clash

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:

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Fifa 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.

Iranian-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:

Iran 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 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.

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There’s some great insight in there:

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The 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 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.