Iran at the 2026 World Cup

The United States is currently co-hosting the World Cup, where the Iranian football team's group stage matches are taking place — even though the two nations are currently at war.

Politics has been following the team at every turn: from visa issues to political protests by the Iranian diaspora, who demonstrated against the Iranian regime outside the stadium during the opening match in Los Angeles. The squad even had to move its training camp base to Tijuana, Mexico, and is only permitted to enter the US for their matches.

DW follows the team as it competes under extraordinary circumstances, with the World Cup becoming a global stage for conflicting political concerns.