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Iran overcomes its divisions for 90 minutes, then same old problems return
Iranian support in LA included supporters of past and present regimes, and opponents of both, but a match that captivated all could not dissolve troubles
Soccer unites. This is what we are told. It swoops in, majestic in the players’ grace, and gives a people – any people – a thing to rally around in good times and bad. And it’s true, that does happen on occasion. But other times, as in Monday’s 2-2 draw between Iran and New Zealand here in southern California, the magic of this ridiculously simple game lies in its power to make one, or several, or several thousand, forget.
Before the game, Iranian people worldwide had been divided by decades of political and cultural difficulty and the Iran team were hamstrung by interrupted preparations for what should be the pinnacle of any players’ career. newsindata.org
Continue reading...France vs. Senegal: 2026 World Cup Group I Clash on June 16
France and Senegal will face off in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I opener on June 16, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium on FOX. France, ranked No. 2 in FIFA and the +425 favorite, aims for redemption after the 2022 penalty shoot-out loss, while Senegal, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations champions, looks to replicate their 2002 shock win against the reigning champions.
Calvin Johnson: Matter of time before someone breaks single-season receiving yard record
Calvin Johnson set the NFL's single-season receiving record with 1,964 yards during the 2012 season and he doesn't expect to have that spot in the record books for too much longer.
Johnson said on Monday that it is only "a matter of time" before someone is able to top the record that he set in a 16-game season. Cooper Kupp came close to reaching Johnson's mark during a 17-game season in 2021 and Johnson noted the likelihood that future aspirants are probably going to have one more game than that to make their run at the No. 1 spot.
“If they go to 18 — well, should we say when they go to 18 games?” Johnson said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “When they go to 18 games it’s no doubt about it. Hands down.”
Matthew Stafford was Johnson's quarterback in 2012 and Kupp's quarterback in 2021, so it's fitting that Johnson thinks Stafford's current top target Puka Nacua is the player with the best chance of setting the new record.
"That would be kind of dope," Johnson said. "I'd have to go to that game if he did that, cause I like Puka. He's getting some crap out of his system that's just a young guy, just learning, but I think he's an awesome, dynamic receiver."
Johnson added that he thought Vikings star Justin Jefferson could be the one to break the record, but believes Minnesota "messed up his quarterback situation" and that Jefferson may have missed his window for a bid at the record as a result.
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay as World Cup Continues
The World Cup match between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay ended in a 1-1 draw in Miami, with the celebrity culture failing to generate much enthusiasm for the group stage encounter. Meanwhile, France officially entered the tournament, Tunisia hired former coach Renard, and Iran expressed feelings of being 'oppressed' during the competition. An official was also cleared of wrongdoing.
The Miami match featured two goal-shy sides and failed to impress residents accustomed to major sporting events like the Super Bowl and Formula One. FIFA's ticket sales strategy, including influencer IShowSpeed, has reportedly begun to irritate some A-list guests in VVIP areas as the tournament continues to unfold.