Egypt made history on Sunday, defeating New Zealand 3-1 to claim their first World Cup victory. Mohamed Salah scored a goal and added an assist as the Pharaohs overcame a 1-0 deficit, with Finn Surman having given New Zealand an early lead in the 15th minute.
Iran produced a defensive masterclass at SoFi Stadium, holding Belgium to a 0-0 draw. Mehdi Taremi had a goal disallowed, Alireza Beiranvand made several sensational saves, and Belgium's Nathan Ngoy was shown a red card. Thibaut Courtois also starred in goal for Belgium.
The results reshape Group B and Group C standings. Egypt's breakthrough win puts them in contention for knockout-stage qualification, while Iran's resilient point against Belgium keeps their Round of 16 hopes alive. Mexico fans have notably rallied behind the Iranian team, with supporters like Alan Romero driving from Tijuana to Los Angeles to cheer them on.
Cape Verde continued to capture global attention, holding Spain to a 0-0 draw after scoring their first-ever World Cup goal. Social media erupted in celebration of the African nation's historic achievement. Egypt now looks ahead to their next Group B match, while Iran faces a must-win scenario against their remaining group opponents.
"Our second team for this World Cup is Iran," said fan Alan Romero, reflecting the solidarity among teams sharing host cities. The Iranian squad trained in Tijuana after off-field issues disrupted their US-based camp.