By Kunle Solaja.

Iran’s national football team arrived in the United States on Sunday ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against New Zealand, stepping into a unique and politically charged chapter in World Cup history.

Team Melli touched down at Los Angeles International Airport after a short flight from Tijuana, Mexico, where they had been based in the build-up to the tournament. The squad’s Airbus A320 landed under clear skies, bringing coach Amir Ghalenoei and his players within minutes of the stadium that will host Monday’s Group G encounter.

The team was expected to proceed directly to its hotel, where heightened security measures were already visible. Police cordoned off sections of the surrounding area and erected additional security barriers ahead of the squad’s arrival.

Iran’s presence in the United States carries significance beyond football.

Their World Cup campaign unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities between the United States and Iran, making this the first World Cup since the tournament began in 1930 in which a host nation has welcomed a country with which it is at war.

The geopolitical tensions have added an unusual dimension to Iran’s opening fixture against New Zealand, a match that already marks the first-ever World Cup meeting between the two nations.

Iran relocated its World Cup base camp from Arizona to Mexico late last month following heightened regional tensions and military actions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Despite the political backdrop, the Iranian squad received an emotional farewell in Tijuana before departing for Los Angeles.

Hundreds of supporters lined the streets outside the team’s hotel, chanting “Team Melli” as players boarded their bus. Many waved to fans and acknowledged the crowd’s support, while members of the delegation recorded the scenes on their mobile phones.

One supporter held a sign declaring, “Iran, you will never walk alone. Mexico stands with you.”

Another memorable moment came when local fans sang in Spanish: “Iran, brother, you are Mexican now.”

The farewell reflected the warmth with which the Iranian team had been embraced during its stay in Mexico, despite the country’s relatively small Iranian community.

Upon arrival in Los Angeles, however, the political realities surrounding Iran quickly became evident.

A group of demonstrators gathered near Los Angeles Stadium, calling for democratic reforms in Iran and protesting against the country’s government.

Protesters carried placards bearing slogans such as “No Shah – No Mullah in Iran – Regime Change by Iranians” and displayed photographs of individuals they said had died following arrests during anti-government demonstrations.

Among those attending the rally was Iranian-American Mojgan Ramezani, who criticised the government’s handling of domestic protests.

“They’re holding hostage their own people,” she said.

Another protester, Hassan Haddadi, expressed frustration over what he described as insufficient international action regarding developments in Iran.

“We’re hoping to bring awareness to the western world, to somehow do something beyond just condemning, to bring an end to this regime,” he said.

Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran, with tens of thousands of Iranian-Americans residing in the metropolitan area. The community’s size and influence have earned parts of the city the nickname “Tehrangeles.”

Against this backdrop, football now takes centre stage.

Coach Ghalenoei and star striker Mehdi Taremi were scheduled to address the media later on Sunday as preparations continued for Monday’s Group G opener.

For Iran, the immediate objective remains sporting success. Yet their arrival in Los Angeles has highlighted how the 2026 FIFA World Cup, like many major sporting events before it, exists at the intersection of sport, politics and national identity.

When Iran take the field against New Zealand, they will do so carrying not only the hopes of their football supporters but also the attention of a global audience watching a World Cup fixture unlike any other in the tournament’s history.

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By Kunle Solaja

When Germany dismantled World Cup debutants Curaçao 7-1 in their Group E opener on Sunday, the scoreline immediately evoked memories of some of the most one-sided contests in FIFA World Cup history.

While the match will be remembered primarily as a historic day for Curaçao, the smallest nation ever to appear at a World Cup, it also added another chapter to football’s long record of lopsided results on the grandest stage.

Germany’s victory mirrored one of the most famous scorelines in World Cup history: their astonishing 7-1 demolition of hosts Brazil in the semi-finals of the 2014 tournament. That result, which stunned a nation and the football world, remains one of the defining moments of modern World Cup history.

The rout of Curaçao was nowhere near as traumatic or consequential, but it served as a reminder that when Germany find their rhythm, they remain capable of overwhelming opponents with ruthless efficiency.

The four-time world champions joined an exclusive list of teams that have recorded seven-goal performances at the World Cup.

Among the tournament’s most emphatic victories remains Hungary’s 10-1 destruction of El Salvador at Spain ’82—the only occasion a team has reached double figures in a World Cup match. That result still stands as both the highest-scoring performance by a single team and one of the largest winning margins in tournament history.

Hungary were also responsible for another famous thrashing when they defeated South Korea 9-0 at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland.

That same nine-goal margin was matched two decades later when Yugoslavia overwhelmed African debutants Zaire 9-0 at the 1974 World Cup in what remains the heaviest defeat suffered by an African team at the finals.

Germany themselves have a history of producing heavy World Cup victories. At the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, they crushed Saudi Arabia 8-0 in their opening match, setting the tone for a campaign that eventually took them to the final.

Other memorable routs include Poland’s 7-0 victory over Haiti in 1974, Portugal’s 7-0 demolition of North Korea in South Africa in 2010, and Spain’s 7-0 hammering of Costa Rica at Qatar 2022.

Sunday’s result therefore sits comfortably among a distinguished, if painful, catalogue of World Cup mismatches.

Yet unlike many of those previous blowouts, the story in Vancouver was not solely about the margin of victory.

For Curaçao, simply reaching the World Cup represented a triumph.

With a population of barely 150,000, the Caribbean island became the smallest nation ever to compete at the finals. Their coach, Dick Advocaat, simultaneously became the oldest manager in World Cup history at 78 years of age.

Most significantly, Livano Comenencia etched his name into Curaçao folklore when he scored the nation’s first-ever World Cup goal in the 21st minute. The strike briefly levelled the contest at 1-1 and prompted the loudest celebration of the afternoon among the 68,021 spectators.

For a fleeting moment, history belonged not to Germany but to the underdogs.

The goal ensured that Curaçao avoided the fate suffered by several World Cup newcomers who failed to score in their debut appearances. It also gave the island nation a treasured memory that no final score could erase.

Germany eventually reasserted their superiority through goals from Felix Nmecha, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz (two), Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav to complete the 7-1 scoreline.

The result instantly propelled Julian Nagelsmann’s side into contention among the tournament favourites and sent a warning to future opponents.

For Curaçao, however, the day was about much more than the scoreboard.

Like Zaire in 1974, Haiti in 1974, and El Salvador in 1982, they learned how unforgiving the World Cup can be when facing established powers. Unlike those teams, however, they departed with a historic goal, a place in the record books, and the admiration of neutrals who celebrated one of football’s most unlikely journeys.

The scoreline may have echoed some of the World Cup’s greatest mismatches, but for Curaçao, it was also the beginning of a remarkable new story.

The FIFA World Cup has produced some remarkably one-sided matches over the years. Here are some of the highest-scoring games and biggest winning margins in tournament history:

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By Kunle Solaja

Curaçao head coach Dick Advocaat is poised to write his name into FIFA World Cup history when his side takes on Germany in their Group E opener at the 2026 tournament.

At 78 years and 260 days old, the veteran Dutchman will become the oldest coach ever to lead a team in a World Cup match, setting a new tournament record and adding another remarkable chapter to a coaching career that has spanned more than four decades.

The historic milestone comes as Curaçao prepare for the biggest match in their football history. The Caribbean nation is making its FIFA World Cup debut and faces a daunting opening assignment against four-time champions Germany.

While much of the pre-match attention has focused on Germany’s quest for another world title, Advocaat’s record-breaking appearance has become one of the tournament’s most compelling stories.

Known affectionately as “The Little General,” Advocaat has enjoyed a distinguished coaching career that has taken him across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has managed several national teams, including the Netherlands, South Korea, Belgium, Russia, Serbia and Iraq, while also leading some of Europe’s most prominent clubs.

Now, at an age when most coaches have long since retired, he finds himself guiding Curaçao onto football’s grandest stage.

The achievement is particularly significant given the scale of Curaçao’s accomplishment in reaching the World Cup. The Caribbean island nation is the smallest country ever to qualify for the tournament, and its appearance in North America has already been celebrated as a historic sporting triumph.

Advocaat’s vast experience is expected to be invaluable as Curaçao attempts to compete against some of the world’s leading football nations.

Their first challenge comes against a German side that has participated in more World Cup tournaments than any other European nation and enters the competition among the favourites.

For Advocaat, however, the occasion is about more than records.

The Dutchman has repeatedly demonstrated throughout his career an enduring passion for the game, and leading Curaçao at the World Cup represents another remarkable accomplishment in a journey that began decades ago.

When Curaçao step onto the field against Germany, the match will not only mark the nation’s World Cup debut but will also see Advocaat become the oldest coach ever to patrol the touchline at football’s biggest tournament — a testament to his longevity, dedication and enduring influence on the global game.

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