{"id":30247,"date":"2026-04-15T15:39:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:39:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/15\/attention-is-focused-on-iran-in-group-g-due-to-war-with-the-us\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T15:39:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:39:47","slug":"attention-is-focused-on-iran-in-group-g-due-to-war-with-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/15\/attention-is-focused-on-iran-in-group-g-due-to-war-with-the-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Attention is focused on Iran in Group G due to war with the US"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n<\/p>\n
\n
Iran is also participating at this time. world cup<\/span> Despite the conflict with the United States.<\/p>\n
Iran’s participation will certainly be difficult, as they are drawn with Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt in Group G. March, Iranian Embassy in Mexico City The country said it was negotiating with FIFA.<\/span> The world soccer body insisted Mexico’s three group stage matches would be moved to Mexico. Please proceed as planned.<\/span><\/p>\n
Even before the Iran war, one game in Group G was controversial. Iran is scheduled to play Egypt in Seattle on June 26, the same weekend as Pride, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. <\/p>\n
Both countries filed complaints with FIFA.<\/span> Regarding the designation of “Pride Match” for religious and cultural reasons. Gay and lesbian individuals face harsh penalties in Iran, including the death penalty.<\/p>\n
Iran<\/h2>\n
Iran has qualified for the World Cup four times in a row and seven times in total, but Team Melli has never made it past the group stage. Iran, currently ranked 21st in the world and coached by former player Amir Galenoei, lost just one match in the Asian qualifiers.<\/p>\n
The team is captained by striker Mehdi Taremi, who has scored 57 goals in 102 games for the national team. After playing for Porto and Inter Milan, he currently plays for Olympiakos in Greece. Midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh plays professionally in Belgium.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi scores his team’s second goal with a penalty kick during a friendly soccer match between Iran and Costa Rica in Antalya, southern Turkey, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo\/Liza Ozer, File)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi scores his team’s second goal with a penalty kick during a friendly soccer match between Iran and Costa Rica in Antalya, southern Turkey, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo\/Liza Ozer, File)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Add AP News to Google <\/p>\n
\n See more stories on Google by adding AP News as your preferred source.<\/p>\n
Before the friendly match against Nigeria in March, Iranian players had little pink and purple<\/span> People wear backpacks during the national anthem to remember the victims of the deadly missile attack on an elementary school on Feb. 28. Evidence suggests it was a US missile.<\/span><\/p>\n
Iran’s planned training camp is in Tucson, Arizona, and the team will play its World Cup opener against New Zealand in Inglewood, next door to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Belgium<\/h2>\n
This will be Belgium’s 15th World Cup appearance. The team’s best result was third place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where they lost in the semi-finals to eventual champions France. Belgium failed to advance from the group stage in 2022. <\/p>\n
Belgium has a rising star in Jeremy Doku, who plays for Manchester City, and veteran Kevin De Bruyne, who plays for Napoli. De Bruyne, who recently returned from a thigh injury and has scored 36 goals in 117 games for his country, will be playing in his fourth World Cup. Striker Romelu Lukaku has been sidelined for several months with a hamstring injury and his availability for the World Cup is uncertain. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne gestures after missing a chance during France’s match against Belgium in the round of 16 of the Euro 2024 soccer tournament on Monday, July 1, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany. (AP Photo\/Hassan Ammar, File)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne gestures after missing a chance during France’s match against Belgium in the round of 16 of the Euro 2024 soccer tournament on Monday, July 1, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany. (AP Photo\/Hassan Ammar, File)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Add AP News to Google <\/p>\n
\n See more stories on Google by adding AP News as your preferred source.<\/p>\n
Belgium defeated America 5-2<\/span> The match will be held on American soil in March and will undoubtedly be the strongest team in Group G.<\/p>\n
Belgium, coached by Rudi Garcia, will open the World Cup on June 15th against Egypt in Seattle.<\/p>\n
egypt<\/h2>\n
Egypt has never won any of the three games they have played in the World Cup. Most recently in 2018, captain Mohamed Salah was in the spotlight, but he missed the first match due to a shoulder injury sustained in the Champions League final.<\/p>\n
The team is coached by Hossam Hassan, who is Egypt’s all-time top scorer with 69 career goals.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Egypt and Benin in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, January 5, 2026. (AP Photo\/Mosa’ab Elshamy, File)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Egypt and Benin in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, January 5, 2026. (AP Photo\/Mosa’ab Elshamy, File)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Add AP News to Google <\/p>\n
\n See more stories on Google by adding AP News as your preferred source.<\/p>\n
With Salah announcing his retirement, attention will likely be focused once again on this World Cup. He leaves Liverpool after nine seasons.<\/span> In the lead-up to the tournament, there will no doubt be speculation about the direction he will take with his club career.<\/p>\n
Egypt held Spain to a scoreless draw in March, but It was marred by anti-Muslim chants by some in the crowd.<\/span> Salah did not play in the match due to a minor muscle injury sustained in Liverpool’s Champions League match against Galatasaray. <\/p>\n
new zealand <\/h2>\n
New Zealand are the lowest team in the group at 85th place. The All Whites are managed by Darren Bazley, who has held the position since 2022. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
New Zealand’s Chris Wood (left) and Costa Rica’s Oscar Duarte compete during the Soccer World Cup 2022 qualifying play-off match between New Zealand and Costa Rica in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. (AP Photo\/Hussein Said, File)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
New Zealand’s Chris Wood (left) and Costa Rica’s Oscar Duarte compete during the Soccer World Cup 2022 qualifying play-off match between New Zealand and Costa Rica in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. (AP Photo\/Hussein Said, File)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Add AP News to Google <\/p>\n
\n See more stories on Google by adding AP News as your preferred source.<\/p>\n
This will be New Zealand’s third appearance in the World Cup, following in 1982 and 2010. The team has never made it past the group stage. <\/p>\n
Captain Chris Wood has scored 45 goals for New Zealand. However, he recently missed five months with English Premier League club Nottingham Forest due to injury and has been working to regain fitness ahead of the World Cup. <\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP World Cup coverage: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n