World Cup 2026 live: FIFA urged to remove official over hand gesture; Iran arrive in US

FIFA is facing pressure after a VAR official appeared to make an upside-down OK-style hand gesture during Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao, while Iran arrived in the United States ahead of their World Cup opener against New Zealand.

The separate developments have become linked in the same day’s World Cup coverage: one raising questions about conduct by match officials, the other highlighting the political and logistical strain surrounding Iran’s tournament build-up.

FIFA urged to act over official gesture

The controversy centers on Australian VAR official Shaun Evans, who appeared to make the gesture during the broadcast introduction of the match officials before Germany’s rout of Curaçao.

FARE, the football anti-discrimination network that works closely with FIFA on equality issues, called for Evans to be removed from World Cup duties. FIFA had not publicly commented in the reporting reviewed.

The gesture has been interpreted by some observers and outlets as a white supremacist symbol, though the reporting also notes that hand sign can be read as a generic OK gesture and intent has not been established.

Iran arrive in Los Angeles

Iran’s national team arrived in Los Angeles before their opening match against New Zealand, scheduled for June 15.

Their preparations have already been disrupted. Iran was forced to relocate its base camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, during the build-up, adding to concerns about travel and logistics around the team’s tournament journey in the United States.

Captain Mehdi Taremi said the team’s World Cup experience had been diminished by political tension and logistical problems. Coach Amir Ghalenoei said Iran would focus on football and represent the Iranian people.

AP reported that the team arrived in Los Angeles amid the strain of competing in the US while tensions remain high.

What happens next

The immediate football focus is Iran’s opener against New Zealand, but the other live issue is whether FIFA responds to the call to remove Evans or changes his assignment.

For now, both storylines remain active: one about match-official conduct, the other about the atmosphere around Iran’s participation at a World Cup staged across the US, Mexico and Canada.