From defections and protests to moments of national pride, the 2026 World Cup arrives amid decades of tension between identity and the state.

After two late goals in another game sealed Iran’s fate, Team Melli was left to rue one of the most brutal exits in World Cup ...

Iran’s World Cup ended on the cruellest note, and when the players returned to Tehran, the first thought on their minds was ...

TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — The Iranian national team left North America on Tuesday, departing from its World Cup home in Mexico ...

Iran tied Egypt 1-1 at Seattle Stadium, and had to quickly leave the country. But the team let it be known how they feel ...

An Iranian political scientist has filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Fifa, its president, Gianni Infantino, and unnamed Fifa officials, alleging that Iran's national team was subjected to ...

Iran’s soccer team arrived in Mexico’s Tijuana city on Sunday – a stone’s throw from the US border – as Tehran criticized Washington over its visa restrictions.

Protests, Pride and a divided Iranian diaspora turned a World Cup night in Seattle into something far bigger than a match.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Several hundred Iranian Americans protested outside Iran's first World Cup match Monday, calling for change in Tehran and waving the pre-revolutionary lion-and-sun flag, while ...

The Iranian men’s national football team will attempt on Friday to advance into the knockout round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup ...

A divisive collision of geopolitics and sports is playing out in a community with emotional ties to two countries at war, setting the stage for drama and protest that will go beyond the pitch.

Iran players walk onto the pitch at the stadium one day before their FIFA World Cup match against New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) ...