{"id":213950,"date":"2026-06-16T01:12:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T01:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/from-the-sports-desk-one-day-after-peace-agreement-iran-takes-field-for-world-cup-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T01:12:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T01:12:20","slug":"from-the-sports-desk-one-day-after-peace-agreement-iran-takes-field-for-world-cup-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/from-the-sports-desk-one-day-after-peace-agreement-iran-takes-field-for-world-cup-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"From The Sports Desk: One day after peace agreement, Iran takes field for World Cup – NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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What a crazy sports weekend that was \u2014 the NBA Finals concluded Saturday night, the World Cup kicked into high gear and the UFC staged fights last night <\/em>on the White House lawn<\/em><\/a>. Be sure to check <\/em>the NBC News website<\/em><\/a> for coverage of all those events.<\/em>
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Today, we have another great World Cup slate, headlined by the Iran-New Zealand game tonight in Southern California, which comes one day after the U.S. reached a framework of a peace deal with Iran to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. We\u2019ll be <\/em>live-blogging the games all day<\/em><\/a>. Stuck at work? We\u2019ll keep you posted on what\u2019s happening. <\/em>
After a highly fraught buildup, Iran starts its tournament tonight against New Zealand. Iran\u2019s training camp was relocated from the U.S. after the war began and some members of their entourage have reportedly been denied visas.
Playing 85th-ranked New Zealand in Inglewood this evening, Iran will at least be buoyed by a fanatical local support base. New Zealand enters the tournament having lost friendlies against England, Chile and Haiti, 4-0. New Zealand will be relying on striker Chris Wood<\/strong>, who plays for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, for goals.
This afternoon, Mohamed Salah<\/strong> and Egypt will take on Belgium, shorn of their \u201cGolden Generation\u201d tag but still boasting Kevin de Bruyne<\/strong>, Salah\u2019s 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<\/strong> takes his side into the tournament in fine form, having topped their qualifying group undefeated. They\u2019ve beaten the U.S., Croatia and Tunisia, in pre-tournament friendlies, as well as drawing with Mexico.
In the first game of the day, one of the pre-tournament favorites takes on one of the biggest underdogs \u2014 Spain faces Cape Verde in Atlanta in Group H. This will be 18-year-old Lamine Yamal\u2019s<\/strong> first World Cup appearance for Spain. He\u2019s widely considered the favorite to take the mantle from Cristiano Ronaldo<\/strong> and Lionel Messi<\/strong>.
Cape Verde, ranked 67th in FIFA\u2019s men\u2019s world rankings to Spain\u2019s 2nd, will be pinning their hopes on Yamal not making the starting lineup: although he has been cleared to play after missing the final weeks of the season for Barcelona due to injury, reports suggest he is unlikely to start.
Spain\u2019s recent record in the tournament is also miserable. It has failed to advance past the Round of 16 since it won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Trying to stop Spain\u2019s attack will be Cape Verde\u2019s Dublin-born defender, Roberto \u201cPico\u201d Lopes<\/strong>, who was recruited to the team via LinkedIn.
Here are the scores and headlines from yesterday\u2019s World Cup games:
Australia beat Turkey<\/a> 2-0, and joined the U.S. atop Group D.
Germany routed Curacao<\/a> 7-1, but the tiny nation celebrated its lone goal.
Japan came back twice <\/a>to tie the Netherlands 2-2.
The Ivory Coast scored late<\/a> to top Ecuador, 1-0.
Sweden pounded<\/a> Tunisia 5-1.
What an absolutely massive first weekend of the World Cup. Brazil looked surprisingly human against impressive Morocco, Japan stunned the mighty Netherlands with one of the first proper shocks of the tournament (along with the Socceroos taking down Turkey, of course), and Scotland\u2019s Super John McGinn<\/strong> unleashed a deflected strike<\/a> with the fury of 1,000 bagpipes to seal his side\u2019s first win at the competition since 1990.
Did we mention last night\u2019s 90th-minute winner from Ivory Coast\u2019s Amad Diallo<\/strong>? Because somehow, that might\u2019ve been the best finish of them all<\/a>. Four days and 12 games down. 35 days, 92 games, and infinite moments of 🤯 left to go.
Today, we get four more matches to savor, including tournament favorites Spain taking on Cape Verde \u2014 the second-smallest country to ever qualify for the competition \u2014 at noon ET in Atlanta. Then, the final remnants of Belgium\u2019s golden generation face Mohammed Salah\u2019s Egypt at 3 p.m. ET in Seattle. For the full match schedule, head here<\/a>.
For more World Cup coverage sent straight to your inbox every morning,<\/em> subscribe to the Men in Blazers newsletter<\/em><\/a>. We\u2019ll be covering every match, every goal and every joyous moment that soccer\u2019s biggest spectacle is sure to bring.<\/em>
Trump, flyovers and bloody fights: What it was like inside the UFC Freedom 250 event<\/a> on the White House lawn.
The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 to win their first Stanley Cup in 20 years<\/a>.
The Knicks spent years looking for a giant<\/a>. Jalen Brunson<\/strong> became something bigger.
Just one World Cup game in, Brazil and Carlo Ancelotti<\/strong> are already under fire<\/a>.
Morocco\u2019s draw against Brazil showed its potential to be the World Cup\u2019s ultimate dark horse<\/a>.
We have a star-studded slate today \u2014<\/em> Spain\u2019s Lamine Yamal<\/strong>, followed by Egypt\u2019s Mo Salah<\/strong>, and later, a politically important game between Iran and New Zealand. We\u2019ll be live-blogging all the action<\/a>, providing real-time updates and expert analysis along the way.
All times are Eastern:
That\u2019s it for now! We\u2019ll be back tomorrow.<\/em>
David Hickey is a platforms and social editor for NBC News.
© 2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC<\/p>\n

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