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‘Part of our culture': Iran defying hardships and dreaming of first World Cup knockout round appearance
By Andrew Greif | NBC News at NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS)
· June 22, 2026
· 6 min read
After Iran played to a draw Sunday at SoFi Stadium, its second of the World Cup in as many matches, the team’s coach began his postmatch assessment by backing up six months.
Among the many elements of Iranian society thrown into disarray in late February by joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel...
Key takeaway , Mexico and Canada — because of security concerns; when the country ultimately stayed in the 48-team field, the location of its home training base was changed from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico.
Why this matters in The Trophy Club
Trophy Club residents watching the World Cup may be interested to know that Iran's team has been training in North America, albeit with significant challenges. The team's initial plan to train in Tucson, Arizona, was changed to Tijuana, Mexico, due to security concerns. Despite these obstacles, Iran's determination to succeed in the tournament is noteworthy. As locals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where international soccer matches are often closely followed, it's interesting to consider how Iran's experiences might resonate with our own community's diverse cultural landscape. The team's perseverance in the face of adversity could inspire local soccer enthusiasts and fans of international competition. With Iran's next match potentially deciding their fate in the tournament, Trophy Club residents may find themselves drawn to the story of this underdog team and its quest to make history in the World Cup.
About this story
Original reporting by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) . The Trophy Club surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) ·
Reading time: 6 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? After Iran played to a draw Sunday at SoFi Stadium, its second of the World Cup in as many matches, the team’s coach began his postmatch assessment by backing up six months.
Among the many elements of Iranian society thrown into disarray in late February by joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS) and curated for The Trophy Club readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Andrew Greif | NBC News at NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS). To learn more about how The Trophy Club selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Trophy Club, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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