Why Team Iran Is in a Tough Spot at the World Cup NYT - Top Stories By: Tariq Panja 16 June 2026 at 06:21 At its first game in Los Angeles, the men’s national team drew spectators who weren’t coming for the soccer, but rather to protest the regime in Tehran. © Gabriela Bhaskar/The New York TimesFans holding Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles on Monday.