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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Eva Corlett in Wellington

‘Beautiful moment’: fans of New Zealand and Iran draw on World Cup fervour together

An Iranian fan with face paint in green, white, and red forms a heart shape with their hands
Football fans from Iran might have hoped for more from their team – much more favoured than New Zealand in the World Cup rankings. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

On a cold winter afternoon in Wellington, dozens gathered at the Four Kings sports bar to watch New Zealand’s football team, the All Whites, take on Iran.

The politics and hostilities surrounding Iran’s World Cup opener may have dominated attention in the lead up to the match, but in New Zealand, fans on both sides turned out for one reason: the love of the game.

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