Overview
- Before kickoff against South Korea on the Gold Coast, Iran’s players stood in silence and did not sing their national anthem.
- South Korea opened its campaign with a 3-0 win, with a brace from Kim Hye-ri and a goal from Choe Yu-ri.
- Head coach Marziyeh Jafari declined to discuss the strikes or Khamenei’s reported death, saying the team would focus on the tournament.
- An AFC media representative cut off translation of a related answer at a prior press conference, and crowd reactions at the match included jeers during the anthem and later applause.
- Fans displayed pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flags, while Iran’s federation signaled World Cup preparations are uncertain during a 40-day mourning period and FIFA said it is monitoring the situation.