The Albany Gazette - Iran prepare for tense World Cup opener, Spain stunned by Cape Verde

After months of uncertainty surrounding their participation in the tournament following war in the Middle East, Iran were due to kick off their Group G game against New Zealand in Los Angeles at 6:00 pm local time (0100 GMT Tuesday).

Iran were initially to be based in Tucson, Arizona, but switched their training base to Tijuana in Mexico at the 11th hour as a result of ongoing tensions with World Cup co-hosts the United States over visa issues.

US authorities have refused to grant visas for several members of the Iranian delegation.

A few hours before Monday's opener at the SoFi Stadium, hundreds of protesters against Iran's ruling regime gathered outside the venue to vent their anger at Tehran's rulers.

Waving the flag used by Iran before the 1979 Islamic revolution, demonstrators beat drums and chanted slogans denouncing the national side, which they insist is a propaganda tool for the hardline Islamic republic.

"This team is not the Iranian people's team, it's the regime's team," said Ava Amin, a philosophy student who came to demonstrate with a banner calling for "regime change."

"When the people get murdered, they ignore it and stay silent," she told AFP.

FIFA has warned fans that anyone carrying Iran's pre-revolutionary flag into the stadium will risk ejection under rules that forbid any kind of political messaging inside grounds.

However AFP reporters witnessed dozens of fans inside the stadium wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the banned flag, while other supporters openly displayed the flag, in violation of FIFA guidelines.

The Iranian players were greeted by a roar from spectators as they ran onto the pitch to warm up.

- Spain held by Cape Verde -

On the field on Monday, European champions Spain -- one of the pre-tournament favourites for the title -- were held to a shock 0-0 draw by African qualifiers Cape Verde.

Spain had been expected to cruise past Cape Verde, playing in the tournament for the first time.

But despite enjoying 74 percent possession and laying siege to the Cape Verde goal, the 2010 world champions were unable to find a breakthrough against the underdogs from the volcanic archipelago of just 525,000 people, who are ranked as 2000-1 outsiders to win the World Cup by several betting websites.

Not even the introduction off the bench of Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal could engineer a goal for Luis de la Fuente's men.

Cape Verde's players and supporters celebrated wildly after securing an improbable point in what was their first ever World Cup match.

"The dream came true," Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha told reporters. "We competed against Spain, one of the best teams in the world. We are very happy and proud of all the players and people of Cape Verde."

The underdogs, nicknamed the Blue Sharks, had never qualified for the World Cup, but were boosted in their bid to qualify for the finals after FIFA's expansion of the tournament to 48 teams.

Spain coach De la Fuente insisted there was no reason to hit the panic button -- and still confidently backed his squad to reach the final.

"We are completely calm, convinced that there is a long way to go. As we see it, we have seven games left," he said.

An upset had also looked on the cards in another early game on Monday, with Egypt taking the lead through Emam Ashour in the first half against Belgium in a Group G game in Seattle.

But veteran Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku came off the bench in the second half to make an instant impact, harassing Egypt defender Mohamed Hany into an own goal to secure a share of the points.

In Miami, two-time World Cup-winners Uruguay had to come from behind to grab a point against Saudi Arabia in Group H.

Abdulelah al-Amri gave Saudi Arabia the lead on 41 minutes but Maxi Araujo's leveller on 80 minutes saved Uruguay's blushes.

(L.Thomas--TAG)