Iran national soccer arrives in LA for World Cup opener to protests over war with US, amid ceasefire

Iran's national soccer team arrived in the United States on Sunday ahead of its World Cup opener against New Zealand amid talks of an agreement between Washington and Tehran that would end the current war.

​The team landed in Los Angeles on Sunday, welcomed by demonstrators near their hotel carrying Iran's former Lion and Sun flag as well as U.S. and Israeli flags. Its team is currently based in Tijuana, Mexico, after plans to hold camp in Arizona were canceled. Strict visa rules only allow the squad to be on American soil for 48 hours, requiring them to go back to Mexico after each match.

Questions about whether Iran would be able to travel to the tournament emerged following the start of U.S.- and Israeli-led strikes on Iran, raising concerns over logistics, security, and international travel. It will be the first time in FIFA's nearly 100-year history that a host country is in active conflict with a participant in the tournament.

The match between Iran and New Zealand is scheduled for 9 P.M. ET Monday at SoFi Stadium (renamed Los Angeles Stadium by FIFA). The Islamic Republic will return to Los Angeles to play Belgium on Sunday, June 21, and will travel to Seattle to take on Egypt on Friday, June 26.

​A possible path for the United States and Iran to face each other exists and is very possible. If both the U.S. (Group D) and Iran (Group G) finish as runners-up in their respective groups, then they would face each other in the round of 32 on July 3 in Dallas, Texas.