According to France 24, Iran's World Cup debut became a flashpoint for online misinformation. A fabricated image falsely showed an Iranian player carrying a pink backpack in tribute to schoolgirls killed during the US-Iran conflict. A goal celebration by forward Mohamed Mohebi was also misinterpreted as a threatening gesture. The incidents reveal how misinformation can weaponize geopolitical tensions even in sports.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton