Iran to become first World Cup team to play in country with which it is at war

AI Summary

Iran is set to become the first World Cup team to play in a country it is currently at war with, when it faces New Zealand in Los Angeles amidst escalating hostilities with the United States. The situation challenges FIFA's motto that football unites the world.

Belligerent backdrop to tournament tests Fifa’s ‘football unites the world’ slogan Iran will present a major challenge to Fifa’s “football unites the world” slogan on Monday by becoming the first country in World Cup history to compete on the soil of a host nation with which it is at war. The national team’s opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles will kick off amid continuing hostilities between Iran and the US that have intensified in recent days, as a fragile ceasefire has failed to hold and attempts at reaching a negotiated settlement have sputtered. Continue reading...