Several hundred Iranian Americans protested outside Iran’s first World Cup game on Monday night, calling for change in Tehran and waving the pre-Islamic revolution lion-and-sun flag.
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The match took place in Inglewood in south-west Los Angeles. The city is home to the largest diaspora community of Iranians outside Iran.
Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been beset by challenges since Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on the country, dividing the US community.
Fans cheered and booed loudly while Iran’s national anthem was played at the game against New Zealand, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Some spectators held large lion-and-sun flags in the front rows just hours after a court upheld Fifa’s ban on them.
After the game, the Iran captain, Mehdi Taremi, midfielder Mohammad Mohebi and the head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, hit out at Fifa and hinted at resentment toward the US government after being told they had to leave Los Angeles as soon as the match was over. Ghalenoei said the way Fifa had treated them made Iran “the most oppressed” team at the tournament.
Read Alex Abnos’s report ► https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/16/iran-overcomes-its-divisions-for-90-minutes-then-same-old-problems-return
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