New Zealand Iran WCup Soccer
Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei walks off the field after a draw during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Iran and New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Monday, June 15, 2026.
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The Trump administration is pushing back on complaints from Iran’s national team that it was forced to leave the U.S. immediately after its first World Cup match instead of having a day to recover in a hotel, saying that was the plan for the team all along. Andrew Giuliani is the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force. He told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the U.S. “was clear this was the process.” Iran winger Mehdi Torabi’s entry visa had also expired after the first game. Team officials and the U.S. State Department confirmed Tuesday afternoon that he had secured a new, multiple-entry visa.
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