Iran ties with New Zealand after U.S. peace deal in a day of surprise World Cup draws

The fourth game of the day has ended in a fourth draw after a 2-2 result between Iran and New Zealand.

Chris Wood #9 of New Zealand and Shoja Khalilzadeh #4 of Iran. Jamie Squire / Getty Images

New Zealand, making its third World Cup appearance, is still looking for its first win. The All Blacks are 0-3-4 all-time in the tournament.

These teams have five more minutes to try to break this 2-2 deadlock in what has been a highly entertaining match.

Ehsan Hajisafi #3 of Iran receives a yellow card. Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images

A hard tackle on Just at midfield leads to a yellow card for Iran's Ehsan Hajisafi, who halted a New Zealand counter. Tense moment in the stadium after Iran had two decent opportunities to score but nothing came of them.

This game has felt overwhelmingly like an Iran home game, with the majority of fans cheering for Iran.

That support has led to huge cheers as Iran has battled back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to tie this match in the second half.

Helen Kohandel outside Los Angeles Stadium today. Andrew Greif / NBC News

Fans including one in the banned flag, stand on the concourse of SoFi Stadium before kickoff Monday at Los Angeles Stadium, on June 15, 2026, in Inglewood, California.  Andrew Greif

Many fans have worn the pre-revolutionary flag of the sun and lion that FIFA had banned inside stadiums.

This game hasn't been quite as loud as the U.S. victory on Friday, but it's not far behind in terms of volume.

A perfectly timed assist into the box has led to a goal for Iran and a 2-2 tie here in the 64rd minute.

Los Angeles Stadium. Katelyn Mulcahy - FIFA / FIFA via Getty Images

Ramin Rezaeian's beautiful cross from the right found Mohammad Mohebbi all alone in the box, and his glancing header to the far post has knotted things up yet again.

This game is anyone's to win.

In the 54th minute, New Zealand fought to get the ball back at midfield and then Elijah Just streaked forward, playing a give-and-go with Chris Wood at the top of the 18-yard box.

Just cooly slotted home his second goal of the game to the far post from the right side, about 10 yards out, over an already diving Alireza Beiranvand. It's 2-1, New Zealand.

Inside the stadium during the second half. Katelyn Mulcahy / FIFA via Getty Images

With the game tied, 1-1, play has resumed here in Southern California.

FIFA has tried to avoid politics in these games, notably by banning the Iranian pre-revolutionary lion-and-sun flag, but fans have found ways around that attempt at depoliticizing tonight's game.

Fans behind the goal brought a display referencing the missile strikes on an Iranian elementary school that killed 168 people on Feb. 28.

The U.S. has not claimed responsibility, but the Trump administration’s preliminary findings show it is increasingly likely that a U.S. munition was used in the strikes, a U.S. official and a person familiar with the investigation previously told NBC News. 

The U.S. military has said it will reveal the results of its investigation once it's concluded.

For all of the focus on geopolitics before tonight's game, this has become a great back-and-forth match.

A fan of New Zealand. Matt McNulty / FIFA via Getty Images

New Zealand has controlled possession for 52% of the game, and both teams have completed more than 80% of their passes.

What looked to be a beautiful free kick assist into a header for an Iranian goal late in added-on time was waved off for a clear offside.

During a fight for the ball by New Zealand defender Finn Surman and Iranian forward Shahriyar Moghanlou, the ball spilled toward Ramin Rezaeian, who tapped into the far post from close range on the right to tie things up 1-1 tie in the 32nd minute.

The goal generated an enormous wave of sound from this crowd.

Iran ties the match against New Zealand 1-1. Lisi Niesner / Reuters

Iran had its best scoring opportunity of the night, courtesy of a long-range Mehdi Taremi strike, bounce off the right crossbar in the 22nd minute to the collective groan of a stadium that is dominated by fans in the country's red, green and white.

Only six minutes into this match, New Zealand has scored to take a 1-0 lead and temporarily quiet what had been a raucous crowd tilted toward the Iranian team.

Los Angeles has the largest population of Iranians in the U.S., so much so it is often called "Tehrangeles," and this crowd felt like a home game until the goal by Elijah Just.

Elijah Just #11 of New Zealand celebrates scoring his team's first goal. Harry How / Getty Images

Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood today. Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

We're underway at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, as Iran and New Zealand will try to get the day's first win.

After a stunning shutout between Cape Verde and Spain, fans celebrated. Plus Japanese fans and even players are being celebrated for how they cleaned up the stands and locker room after their game. 

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa is not one to mince his words, and he showed that with a blunt assessment of his team's 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia tonight: "We needed to win this game."

Speaking to Telemundo after the match, "El Loco" called the Saudis "a rival that we should’ve overcome."

It will only get harder for "Los Charrúas" after this as they take on Spain, which had its own disappointing draw against Cape Verde, on Sunday.

We've had three games today, and all have ended with the teams level after 90 minutes.

Saudi Arabia and Uruguay's 1-1 result followed another 1-1 tie between Belgium and Egypt, as well as a 0-0 draw between Spain and Cape Verde in the day's opening game.

Iran and New Zealand will look to get the day's first win when they kick off at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, in about half an hour.

With pockets of protests against the Iranian government unfolding outside SoFi Stadium, Iran just took the field for warm-ups. The team's World Cup opener is about 45 minutes away.

Some fans held out flags of the current Islamic Republic, while others displayed lion flags from the pre-revolutionary period.

FIFA banned fhose flags, but fans protesting the current government said they planned to sneak them in. It looks at least some of them were successful.

What a game!

Saudi Arabia will surely be the happier of the sides, as it almost pulled off a smash-and-grab before ultimately splitting a point apiece with Uruguay.

This game's star man is no doubt Mohammed Al-Owais, who produced the best goalkeeping performance of this World Cup thus far. He conceded once but made save after save to keep his team in it.

For its part, Uruguay has to feel that it's three points lost rather than a point gained. The pressure will be fully on Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa after this result.

Al-Owais' fists come to the rescue once again in just the first minute of added-on time, as he punches away Nicolás de la Cruz's left-footed effort from inside the 18-yard box.

We'll play a minimum of seven minutes more.

Uruguay players celebrate after scoring the equalizing goal.  Chandan Khanna / AFP via Getty Images

Uruguay's efforts finally yield fruit as Maximiliano Araújo fires home in the 80th minute from close range on the left after Al-Owais made an initial save of a Uruguayan header but left the ball alive in the box.

We're tied at 1-1.

Federico Valverde's powerful 67th minute free kick from the left is punched away by Al-Owais.

Rodrigo Bentancur #6 of Uruguay competes for the ball against Abdullah Al-Khaibari #15 and Nasser Al-Dawsari #6 of Saudi Arabia. Alex Slitz / Getty Images

As the minutes tick by, Uruguay appears to be growing increasingly desperate. The positive for them is that they have Saudi Arabia fully on the back foot.

Uruguay comes agonizingly close as Manuel Ugarte rifles a shot low from outside the box, only to see it hit the far left post.

And who tipped it onto the post? That's right: once again, Al-Owais.

Al-Owais continues his heroics as he's called into action early in this second half, palming away Viñas' glancing header off a cross from the right by Guillermo Varela.

If that first half was an indication of things to come, we're in for a thrilling second 45 minutes as Saudi Arabia tries to hold off the Uruguayan fight-back.

Anyone hoping to see intricate short passing has been sorely disappointed thus far.

Instead, we're seeing an aerial battle, as both Saudi Arabia and Uruguay pump crosses into the box, seemingly intent on using physicality to win the day.

Could we be be looking at another Saudi Arabian upset of a South American team in consecutive World Cups?

In 2022, it was a 2-1 win against eventual champions Argentina that shocked the soccer world.

Now, Saudi Arabia is looking to keep its 1-0 lead, and possibly extend it, after halftime.

For context, Saudi Arabia was ranked 61st in the world by FIFA coming into this tournament. By contrast, Uruguay was ranked 16th.

Uruguay is plugging away, trying to tie things up before halftime, but they’re being met by a wall in the form of Al-Owais.

Federico Viñas could only see his header from the right fall into Al-Owais's outstretched hands.

Al-Amri may have the goal, but Al-Owais is surely the star man of this game thus far.

You sensed it was coming, and now Saudi Arabia takes the lead!

Fans of Saudi Arabia celebrate team's first goal. Julian Finney / FIFA via Getty Images

Muslera makes the initial save following a Saudi corner kick, but he spills the ball and Al-Amri is there to poke it in and make it a 1-0 game as we approach halftime.

Abdulelah Al-Amri looked to put Saudi Arabia in the lead, but Muslera's prodigious left hand repelled his rifled shot away.

Uruguay has started forcing the issue, but Al-Owais is becoming Saudi Arabia's key man.

Federico Viñas sent a tempting cross from the left, but Al-Owais was there to punch it away before an onrushing Darwin Núñez could get his head on it.

Musab Al-Juwayr's corner kick comes to nothing as Uruguay's backline repels his cross from the right.

Now, it's time for the hydration break.

Saudi Arabia finally has a shot.

Salem Aldawsari cut inside from the left, but he could only fire wide with his right foot. We're still 0-0 at the 20th minute.

Maxi Araujo #20 of Uruguay and Mohamed Kanno #23 of Saudi Arabia today. Alex Slitz / Getty Images

It's electric inside Miami Stadium, but Saudi Arabia has started to put its foot on the ball and is dulling some of the Uruguayan national team's famous tenacity.

The Green Falcons have yet to register a shot on Fernando Muslera's goal, though.

Maximiliano Araújo stings Mohammed Al-Owais' hands with a rifled shot from distance in the 5th minute.

The Saudi goalkeeper then collected Federico Viñas' tame header on the subsequent corner kick.

Miami Stadium today. Molly Darlington / Getty Images

Play has started in Miami Gardens, Florida, as Uruguay tries to stop Saudi Arabia from pulling off another upset tonight, following the earlier draw between Spain and Cape Verde.

Saudi Arabia is heading into its World Cup opener against Uruguay with a new man on the touchline.

Greek coach Georgios Donis was appointed just two months ago after Saudi Arabia sacked former coach Hervé Renard. Renard led the team in the 2022 World Cup, famously beating Argentina 2-1 in the group stage.

Renard left to coach France's women's team, only to return to the Saudi Arabia men's team in late 2024. That stint came to an end in April, though, following friendly losses to Egypt and Serbia.

We're about to find out if the last-minute gamble on Donis will pay off.

Saudi Arabia coach Georgios Donis said he will not be sending out a “passive” team to play for a draw in their World Cup opener against Uruguay today and expects his players to be highly competitive against the South Americans at Miami Stadium.

With European champions Spain and Cape Verde completing Group H, the Saudis might be forgiven for going out to avoid defeat and therefore strengthening their chances of advancing to the knockout stage, at the very least as one of the eight third-placed teams.

Donis, while accepting it might turn out to be Saudi Arabia’s most important group match, said such thinking ran counter to the philosophy he had been trying to instil in the squad and that the Green Falcons would be going out to win.

“We are ready to press our opponent. We are ready to play organized defense. We are ready to counterattack. We are also ready to create chances,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Match officials before the match between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay at Miami Stadium today. Carmen Mandato - FIFA / FIFA via Getty Images

Officials at today’s Group H World Cup clash in Miami Gardens between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia will be wearing pink shirts in what FIFA says is a tribute to South Florida’s largest city.

Unofficially, it also could be a nod to the most well-known MLS club side outfitted by Adidas, the same manufacturer of referee uniforms at this year’s tournament.

Yes, pink flamingos are synonymous with Miami. But the shade of pink and black trim for the shirts, shown in an image from FIFA’s official X account, is eerily similar to those worn by Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, the reigning 2025 MLS Cup champions.

That particularly could be annoying to Uruguay supporters, given Messi’s stature in the sport overall and in particular with defending champion Argentina, La Celeste’s biggest rival.

Today was a bit of a celebration for Salah, also known as the Egyptian King. Salah turned 34 today, with several fans bringing signs to the stadium in his honor.

In addition to being one of the greatest wingers ever, Salah is a point of pride for Egpytian soccer fans, as he’s helped raise the profile of the country during his incredible career.

Egypt's Emam Ashour, right, shoot and scores the opening goal of the game today.  Manu Fernandez / AP

Egypt will have to wait longer for its first World Cup win, as today’s match ends in a draw.

Egypt took an early lead, before Romelu Lukaku’s entrance in the second half led to an own goal.

That was a fun one, with both teams staying aggressive throughout the match.

Brandon Machele had a chance after a free kick, but his right-footed shot off a pass sailed over the net.

Neither side seems ready to settle for a tie as both Belgium and Egypt have kept their feet on the gas in this second half.

As the second half winds down, Belgium appeared to miss a late golden chance. Romelu Lukaku was left unmarked in the box, as a cross came in, but he miss-hit a header and sent it over the goal, rather than on net.

Mostafa Shoubir has made some big stops this match, including one just now on a Brandon Machele header.

On his 34th birthday, Mo Salah’s day is done as Egypt looks to hold on or take the lead over the final stretch of this match. Salah was replaced by Hamza Abdelkarim, a talented 18-year-old forward, who is one of the youngest players in this tournament. He also represents the future of this Egyptian team.

De Cuyper got a little too rough on a takedown and was carded.

Thomas Meunier was making a nice run near the top right of the penalty box, but his shot was saved by Mostafa Shoubir, his second save of the game.

This match has taken on a new life after the entrance of Romelu Lukaku, whose pressure on the net led to an own goal for Egypt.

Egypt has been better offensively this half, actually taking the lead in expected goals after generating some nice chances. The final 20 minutes should be exciting as the teams try to break the tie.

Wow! Only seconds after taking the pitch, Romelu Lukaku made a run to the front of the net, as his teammate sent in a pass. Lukaku's presence caused the Egyptian defense to scramble, and the ball appeared to ricochet into the net off of a defender's foot.

Lukaku, the country’s all-time leading scorer, made an immediate impact. It’s 1-1 in the 68th minute.

The 33-year-old is Belgium’s all-time leading goal-scorer, and his storied left foot could be exactly what his country needs in this second half.

Kevin De Bruyne had another chance from the center of the box, but he couldn’t get enough on it, and it was stopped with ease by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir.

This was also Belgium's first shot on goal, and it came more than 60 minutes into the match.

Marmoush had a great chance just now for Egypt, running clear of the Belgium defense down the right wing. But his shot sailed over the net as he started to feel some contact from behind.

Mo Salah had a header near the top of the penalty box, but his shot was shoved aside by Thibaut Courtois.

Emam Ashmour got the rebound, but his follow-up shot was nowhere close to the net.

Kevin de Bruyne had a great chance off a free kick just outside the box, but his shot hit the post and led to a goal kick.

Egypt is in position to win its first match at the World Cup, but will have to hold off an aggressive Belgium squad to do so.

Egypt leads after the Emam Ashmour goal in the 19th minute.

Belgium has been better for stretches, winning in possession (58% to 42%) and expected goals (0.47 to 0.15). Egypt leads on the scoreboard, however, and is 45 minutes away from its first win ever at the World Cup.

Off a throw-in close to the corner, the ball eventually found Jérémy Doku in the middle of the box, but his right-footed shot sailed over the crossbar.

Can Belgium find an equalizer before halftime?

His sliding challenge was deemed illegal.

The action has cooled slightly since the hydration break. Egypt is still up after the Emam Ashour goal.

Fun match so far, with the teams nearly even in possession (52% to 48% for Egypt) and expected goals (0.09 to 0.07 for Belgium). Egypt, of course, leads 1-0 in actual goals scored.

Egypt leads 1-0 after an absolute strike from Emam Ashour in the 19th minute.

From the top of the box, Ashour uncorked a swinger into the bottom-left corner of the net. That’s Ashour’s first career international goal.

Belgium’s Timothy Castagne was carded for holding on to Mo Salah as Salah made a run down the middle of the field.

Even match through the first 15 minutes, as both sides have exerted a little pressure offensively without any major scoring chances so far.

Kevin de Bruyne had a clean shot from the top of the box, but he fired it left of the goal.

Looks like a beautiful day in Seattle for some World Cup action.

Mohamed Salah and Egypt will take on Belgium, shorn of their “Golden Generation” tag but still boasting Kevin de Bruyne, Salah’s onetime Premier League rival. Egypt has never won a World Cup match, whereas Belgium finished third as recently as 2018.

Although Belgium failed to advance beyond the group stage in 2022 in Qatar, an early exit this time looks unlikely: Frenchman Rudi Garcia takes his team into the tournament in fine form, having topped their qualifying group undefeated. They’ve beaten the U.S., Croatia and Tunisia in pretournament friendlies, as well as drawing with Mexico.

Belgium’s Jeremy Doku is due to become a father for the first time while the World Cup is still on and wants to be at the birth, creating a potential dilemma for the team.

The 24-year-old winger is one of the key elements of the Belgian team, which opens its World Cup campaign against Egypt in Seattle today, and plans for him to leave the United States and return home for the birth of his child are being put in place, Belgian media reported.

Doku told reporters that his wife, Shireen, is due in the second week of July, when the tournament will reach the quarterfinal stage, and if Belgium is still involved, he wants to be at the birth.

Look at how lopsided the match was in favor of Spain.

Total shots: 27-6

Shots on goal: 7-1

Corner kicks: 11-1

Possession percentage: 74-26

But Cape Verde found a way not to lose.

Spain's defender Pau Cubarsi misses the ball during the match today. Roberto Schmidt / AFP via Getty Images

One of the greatest draws in World Cup history, as Cape Verde ties Spain 0-0 in its first World Cup match ever. Spain thoroughly dominated in possession and scoring chances, but 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha made save after save for Cape Verde, keeping this match scoreless.

Wow.

Pablo Martin Gavi of Spain, left, and Steven Moreira of Cape Verde compete for the ball during the match today. Jose Hernandez / Anadolu via Getty Images

Pedri picked up the card for a blatant hold while trying to prevent a Cape Verde runout.

Only a few minutes left in this one. Can either team find the back of the net?

Unai Simón stopped an open header in front of the net, coming off Cape Verde’s first corner of the game.

Cape Verde finally got on the attack and now it will have a corner kick in the 90th minute.

Dani Olmo found Mikel Oyarzabal in the middle of the box for a possible winner, but Oyarzabal’s shot went over the crossbar.

Spain is scoreless after Vozinha has made save after save. Can Cape Verde hold on for a point — or take the lead — in its first-ever World Cup match?

Close to 80 minutes into this match, and Spain is practically having a party in front of Cape Verde’s net. Vozinha and Cape Verde’s defense have been up to the challenge so far, but Spain is knocking on a door with loose hinges.

It's wild to see Cape Verde pack all 10 players into such a small patch of grass in the defensive zone. It's creating a wall that Spain can't seem to penetrate. If this game ends in a 0-0 tie, it would be one of the most shocking results in World Cup history. There's about 10 minutes remaining, plus stoppage time.

The crowd is going nuts after another save by Vozinha, this time on a dribbler in the middle of the box.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha broke up Spain’s corner in the 68th minute, and now it’s hydration break time.

Vozinha has been the star of the match so far, but Spain is about to sub winger Lamine Yamal into the game, which should make the last 20 minutes or so of this match electric.

Can Yamal finally get Spain on the board? Or will Vozinha keep up the heroics?

Spain has thoroughly dominated in every category in except the scoreboard so far.

Spain has controlled possession for 70% of the action and has 1.73 expected goals.

Cape Verde continues to keep La Roja out of the net, however, thanks to five saves by goalkeeper Vozinha.

He just handled a Fabián Ruiz header from right in the middle of the box. He's up to five saves now on the match.

The score was 0-0 at halftime. Can Vozinha keep stonewalling Spain? Will we see Lamine Yamal? All will be revealed in the final 45 minutes.

The Cape Verde goalkeeper was the star of the first half, making four saves to keep Spain scoreless.

Vozinha’s dad spoke to Telemundo Deportes prior to the match and revealed that his son is named after a Brazilian soccer player.

The Barcelona winger has yet to play today as he manages a hamstring injury he sustained in April.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente said yesterday that Yamal was cleared to play in today’s match, though not a full 90 minutes. Maybe he will come on and provide a boost after halftime.

An exciting finish to the first half, which saw Spain ratchet up the pressure but fail to score.

Spain leads in expected goals 1.15 to 0.04 and holds 70% to 30% possession advantage. But Cape Verde has avoided conceding, thanks in large part to the heroics of goalkeeper Vozinha, who has made multiple big saves.

Wow! Another fantastic save by Cape Verde’s goalkeeper, who stopped a Ferran Torres shot that was trying to find the back-left corner of the net.

Wow!

Spain just had its best chance of the day. First, a Ferran Torres shot hit the crossbar. On the rebound, Mikel Oyarzabal tried to capitalize, but his header was pushed over the crossbar by Vozinha.

Great resolve by Cape Verde to hold strong.

The play was ultimately offside, but Spain nearly manufactured the game’s first goal in the 36th minute. A nice save by Cape Verde’s Vozinha prevented what technically never would have been ruled a goal. It was fun, though!

Cape Verde is hanging strong in its debut match at the World Cup. Spain has been in control of the action, but only has one shot on goal despite its possession advantage.

Pedro González López, aka "Pedri," of Spain controls the ball under pressure from Kevin Pina of Cape Verde during the match today. Florencia Tan Jun / Getty Images

While Spain has largely controlled the action so far, it doesn’t have anything to show for it in this 0-0 match. That appears to be bothering people, as the broadcast noted some pointed conversations among the Spanish team during the hydration break.

This is Cape Verde’s first ever World Cup match.

Hydration break time in Atlanta. Spain has controlled possession and has the game’s only shot on goal. Cape Verde will have a goal kick after the break.

Sidny Lopes Cabral was flagged after a shove to Marcos Llorente. Spain couldn’t generate a chance with the free kick, however.

Fifteen minutes into this match and Spain has dominated possession 67% to 33%. Spain hasn’t had great scoring opportunities, but it is knocking on the door.

Spain got its first corner kick in the 11th minute, but Cape Verde was able to clear the ball quite quickly, preventing a chance.

Cape Verde kicked off and the action is underway in Atlanta.

Iran’s soccer team arrived in the United States for the first time this World Cup yesterday, landing at Los Angeles International Airport after a short flight from Tijuana, Mexico, where they left their base camp earlier to a rousing sendoff.

The squad’s Group G fixture against New Zealand will be played against the backdrop of the U.S. war with Iran, adding a charged atmosphere to ​a contest between two nations who have never met at the World Cup.

Iran moved their World Cup base camp from a sports complex in Arizona to Mexico late last month after the U.S. and Israel conducted joint strikes on Iran ​beginning in late February.

Spanish teen star Lamine Yamal will begin his team’s opening match on the bench after sustaining a hamstring injury in April, though he’s still expected to play today.

“The good news is that Lamine is in perfect condition,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said yesterday. “He’s arrived at this point in the state in which we wanted him to be.”

De la Fuente added: “The doctors say Lamine can play tomorrow without any issues. Not to play 90 minutes, but to play some minutes, yes.”

One of the best players in the world, Yamal scored 16 goals for Barcelona in La Liga this past season.

Lamine Yamal juggles the ball during a training session at Kennesaw State University in Georgia yesterday. Soccrates Images / Getty Images

Cape Verde begins its first World Cup adventure with a Group H clash against European champions Spain, and manager Bubista said he wants his team to not only enjoy the tournament and show its country to the world, but also to compete.

The debutantes could not have asked for a much more difficult start as they take on one of the tournament’s favorites today, but Cape Verde is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

“We’ve been discussing how much we want to enjoy the match and the World Cup,” Bubista told reporters yesterday.

“We’ve already said that our qualification for the World Cup means more than just football. It’s a cultural, a musical achievement.”

Takefusa Kubo encontró a Keito Nakamura en el área y el delantero japonés no lo pensó dos veces. Con un potente remate de pierna derecha desde fuera del área, venció al guardameta neerlandés para igualar el marcador ante Países Bajos.

Carlos Queiroz is still one tournament short of matching the record for coaching at the World Cup, but the 73-year-old will still enter the record books this week.

Queiroz takes charge of Ghana as they begin their Group L campaign against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday and continues a run that began with Portugal in 2010 and saw him also coach Iran at three successive World Cups in 2014, 2018, and 2022.

The run matches the record five tournaments in a row that Bora Milutinović set from 1986 to 2002 when he was at the helm of five different national teams.

Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira has the record number of World Cup appearances as a coach with six, but not successively.

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz during a match against Wales on June 2. Huw Fairclough / Getty Images

Iranian Americans are torn over Iran’s participation in the World Cup, as some community members plan to watch today’s match and others plan to protest outside the stadium where the team will play.

A rally is planned for outside the stadium near Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran. Many of Southern California’s Iranian Americans arrived after the Islamic Revolution, and a hub of eateries, shops and markets about 10 miles from the stadium is known as “Tehrangeles.”

Rally participants plan to wear lion-and-sun T-shirts and wave the country’s flag from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution in protest of Tehran’s deadly January crackdown on dissent.

On Saturday afternoon, thousands of Brazil fans, clad in highlighter yellow jerseys, made the trek to New York/New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) to watch their team play Morocco in its first game of this World Cup. They sang on the train in from Manhattan and waved flags and chanted throughout the day.

But after 90 minutes of tense, back-and-forth play that ended in a 1-1 tie, those fans were less than thrilled. “That was a terrible performance,” one said as he left the stadium. “Terrible!”

Soon, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti was sitting on a stage, taking questions from another tough crowd: the Brazilian media. They peppered him with questions about his starting lineup, his substitution patterns, every tactical decision one could imagine.

“You don’t win a World Cup based on your first match,” Ancelotti said through a FIFA interpreter.

Nicholas Mendola reports from Toronto after Canada's draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina and what he learned after Les Rouges' first match.