রিপোর্টারের নাম 
আগামীকাল সোমবার, আন্তর্জাতিক ফুটবলThe world will be watching as Iran kicks off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand at 7 AM Bangladesh time. The match, to be held at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, USA, is shrouded in an unusual intensity, extending beyond the field of play. This marks the first time a nation is participating in the World Cup amidst an ongoing conflict in an adversary’s territory. Iran and the United States have recently resumed hostilities, raising concerns about Iran’s participation in the tournament.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Iran is set to compete, facing significantly greater challenges than other participating teams. The Iranian team arrived in Mexico after training in Turkey and will travel from there for their matches in the USA. Iranian players have received visas to the United States under specific conditions, with the Trump administration mandating their departure within 24 hours of the match. While the players have obtained visas, many officials, including the President of the Iran Football Federation, have not. Furthermore, allegations have surfaced that World Cup tickets allocated for Iranian supporters to cheer their team from the stadium stands have been cancelled.
Amidst these multifaceted complexities, Iran aims to begin their World Cup journey with a victory. They will be wearing jerseys inscribed with ‘168’ to commemorate the innocent lives lost in a missile attack on Iran’s Minab school, where at least 168 people, mostly children, were killed. Iran has attributed this brutal incident to the United States. This special jersey serves as a poignant reminder of this tragic event.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Iran has not lagged behind in its World Cup preparations. They are in winning form, having secured victories against Costa Rica (5-0), Mali (2-0), and Gambia (3-1) in their recent matches. Filled with confidence, Iran is eager to showcase their best performance on the World Cup stage. This is their 17th World Cup appearance, but they have yet to advance beyond the group stage. This year, the Iranian warriors aspire to create new history by progressing past the group stages. Meanwhile, New Zealand makes a return to the World Cup after a three-tournament hiatus and will be keen to make this comeback memorable.
