Iran avoided defeat in their first World Cup appearance on US soil, as reported by FAZ. Coach Amir Ghalenoei’s team came from behind twice: Ramin Rezaeian scored in the 32nd minute and Mohammad Mohebi in the 64th. New Zealand had taken the lead through Elijah Just in the 7th and 54th minutes.
The match took place in Inglewood near Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran. The support for the Iranian team was correspondingly loud. Before kickoff, numerous flags from the pre-Islamic Revolution era were visible in the stadium – a symbol of the opposition. FIFA, by court order, confiscated the so-called Lion and Sun flag, while many fans waved the current Iranian flag. There were no riots; the atmosphere among the 70,108 spectators remained peaceful.
The political charge was also palpable during the national anthem: whistles accompanied the Iranian anthem, while the players stood together at the center circle with hands over their hearts. One fan told the German Press Agency: “I’m happy to support the people in Iran here, I don’t support the regime.” Shortly before the match, the US and Iran announced a framework agreement to end the war, though details are not yet known.
Iran, in their seventh World Cup appearance, is aiming for the round of 16 for the first time. Preparations were marked by uncertainty: the team’s World Cup base had to be moved to Mexico, and entry into the US was unclear for a long time. FIFA Gianni Infantino watched the game from the VIP stand.
Source: www.faz.net
