Iran plays New Zealand during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Tournament in Los Angeles, June 15, 2026. (Gabriela Bhaskar/The New York Times) By RICK ROJAS Spain was the powerhouse, heading into its first game of the 2026 World Cup earlier this week, and ranked as one of the favorites to win the entire tournament. Cape Verde, a tiny island nation off the West African coast that was once part of the Portuguese empire, was an unlikely qualifier playing its first World Cup game. Monday’s match ended in…
