In brief
- The Iranian national football team’s first match of the FIFA World Cup is against New Zealand.
- Hours after the squad arrived in Los Angeles, a peace deal between the US and Iran was announced.
In a dramatic display, hundreds of anti-regime demonstrators greeted the Iranian national football team at their highly anticipated match, marking one of the most politically charged events at this year’s FIFA World Cup. This confrontation unfolded during the Group G opener against New Zealand, which concluded in a 2-2 draw at the Los Angeles Stadium on Tuesday morning (AEST).
The match came on the heels of a significant announcement: the United States and Iran had brokered a peace agreement aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This backdrop only intensified the atmosphere surrounding the game.
Outside the stadium, a sea of demonstrators brandished the Lion and Sun flag, which served as Iran’s national emblem before the 1979 revolution and is now a symbol of opposition banned within the country. Alongside these flags, many waved the banners of Israel and the United States, adding an international dimension to the protest.
The tension escalated as an anti-regime protester vocally confronted Iranian supporters queuing to enter the stadium. In a provocative act, the protester flipped off the awaiting fans, seized an Iranian flag from a supporter, and proceeded to stomp on it, intensifying the charged atmosphere.
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FIFA banned fans from bringing the pre-revolution flag into World Cup matches, citing its rules prohibiting flags or political apparel.
But numerous people carrying the lion-and-sun flag or wearing t-shirts with the symbol passed through security at the stadium without issue.
Iran had threatened to halt the match if unofficial flags were brought in or slogans were chanted, but the match proceeded as planned.
Assal Pahlevan, an organiser with Democracy for Iran, told SBS News she was protesting the flag ban.
“This is not democracy,” she said.
“Any sport, it’s volleyball or basketball or football, it doesn’t matter which sport is it, you can say whatever you want to say.”
Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Iranian diaspora communities in the world, many of whom are descendants of Iranians who fled after the revolution and oppose the Iranian government.
Inside the stadium, the Iranian national anthem was booed, but Iran also enjoyed support from many in the crowd who erupted into cheers when they equalised in the first half.
“I’m here to support Iran. We’re going to win this game,” said 57-year-old Mehdi Jafari, wearing an Iran football shirt, going into the stadium ahead of the match.
“We’re very proud of our country. We’re here to support Iran. I think we should all let go of the politics and just go in and cheer on the Team Melli.”
Iranian team arrives hours before ceasefire announced
After months of debate about whether they would participate in the tournament, the Iranian national football team arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, local time, from Tijuana, Mexico, where they had relocated their base camp due to security concerns related to the conflict.
Hours after their arrival, US President Donald Trump announced an agreement to end hostilities between the two countries, which began when the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February.
Iran’s participation in the tournament would have marked the first time in the World Cup’s 96-year history that a country played while at war with a host nation.
Iran will have to travel from Mexico to the US for each of their three group matches, with their visas permitting them to remain on US soil for less than 48 hours and requiring them to return to Mexico after each game.
Earlier on Tuesday, Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 in the other Group G opener.
Speaking through a translator at a press conference at Los Angeles Stadium, Iranian coach Amir Ghalenoei said he was “very happy to be representing the great, proud and strong nation of Iran”.
“I hope that football will bring about joy and enjoyment, and bring closer the cultures and countries,” he said.
Several Iranian officials have been denied entry, including the national football federation’s president, and Ghalenoei said the travel and visa denials had negatively affected the squad.
Hadi, a Socceroos fan who was raised in Iran but moved to Australia as a teenager, and is part of the Hazara community from Afghanistan, told SBS News the peace deal was “good for the world”.
“This conflict … the whole world [is] suffering from that,” he said.
“We don’t know what’s gonna happen in the background, but on the paper it looks like it’s good.”
— With additional reporting by Reuters news agency and Haylena Krishnamoorthy
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