Iran beat Gambia in friendly

TEHRAN – Team Melli signaled their World Cup intent on Friday, overcoming a halftime deficit to dismantle Gambia 3-1 in a high-octane friendly in Antalya, Turkey..

By Soheila Zarfam

Politics on the Pitch

Is the U.S. weaponizing 2026 World Cup against Iran?

TEHRAN — The contradiction between sport’s stated mission to unite people and the reality of restricted access was laid bare last week when several members of Iran’s World Cup delegation were refused U.S. visas and could not attend the FIFA 2026 draw in Washington on December 5, 2026.