Tensions Rise: Iran’s Challenging World Cup Kickoff Against New Zealand Amid Protests and Warnings

Just after 4 PM in Los Angeles, the Iran team bus was escorted up South Prairie Avenue by a convoy of police motorcycles. It climbed the hill, passing by a modest gathering of supporters before veering right towards the gates of SoFi Stadium — an entrance some anticipated would be akin to entering ‘hell.’

For Amir Ghalenoei and his players, this was the foreboding expectation set for their World Cup opener against New Zealand. SoFi Stadium, a sprawling $5.5 billion complex on LA’s outskirts, was chosen as the venue for this tense and politically charged match.

In a first for World Cup history, a host nation found itself in conflict with one of its guests. Still, the perceived danger to Iran’s team seemed to stem more from Iranian exiles and residents in the area than from international tensions. “We are going to make it hell,” vowed one Iranian-American, voicing the anger of those who oppose the team for its association with a regime they deem oppressive.

Despite the potential for chaos — a scenario sure to unsettle FIFA president Gianni Infantino — the evening progressed with few serious disruptions. There were demonstrations outside the stadium, and some fans defied FIFA regulations by smuggling in pre-revolutionary flags. The Iranian national anthem met with a chorus of boos from parts of the crowd within SoFi Stadium. Yet, as the players stepped out from the tunnel, they were met with overwhelming applause from the majority of the 70,000 attendees, a sound that drowned out dissent.

Yes there were protests outside. Yes, many defied FIFA’s ban by sneaking pre-revolutionary flags into their seats and yes, the Iranian national anthem was booed by some inside SoFi Stadium. But from the moment they emerged from the tunnel, Iran’s players were greeted by deafening cheers from the majority of the 70,000-strong crowd.

There were Mexican waves but little hostility. In fact, over these 90 minutes, no one troubled them more than Elijah Just, the New Zealand winger who scored twice as the All Whites upset the odds to secure a 2-2 draw. 

Protestors gather outside SoFi Stadium ahead of Iran’s World Cup clash with New Zealand

Elijah Just scored twice for New Zealand in the Group G match near Los Angeles on Monday 

Iran later slammed their ‘oppressive’ and ‘disastrous’ treatment during this World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino was among the crowd at SoFi Stadium on Monday night

And then the game ended and the chaos resumed: Ghalenoei, Mehdi Taremi and Mohammad Mohebi arrived for their post-game press conferences and calmly, brutally slammed their treatment in the United States. 

It was captivating and damaging in equal measure. They criticized Iran’s ‘oppression’ and said this World Cup had been a ‘disaster.’ They revealed they were being forced to leave Los Angeles straight after the game – against their will. They snapped. Anger, which had been bubbling for months, finally boiled over.

Infantino had watched the game from the stands and then visited the Iranian dressing room. ‘You are writing history, the whole world is watching you,’ the FIFA president told the players. 

‘Continue to play with your heart, for your people, your families, for your fans and for everyone in the world that is falling in love with Team Melli…. you are stronger than everything.’

Within a few minutes, however, Infantino faced yet more embarrassment and yet more difficult questions.

How he would have enjoyed the previous 90 minutes, when New Zealand – the lowest-ranked team in this bloated competition – took the lead twice, only to be pegged back by goals from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohebbi. 

Both those equalizers sparked wild celebrations from Iran’s players and many of the 70,000 fans here. But, before long, that same team bus was making its way out of SoFi under another huge cloud of controversy.

Up to 35,000 protestors were predicted to turn up, bussed in from ‘Tehrangeles’ and across California, armed with flags from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and a songbook of anti-government chants.

Ramin Rezaeian (right) scored a first-half equalizer for Iran after they fell behind on Monday

Ahead of kickoff at SoFi Stadium, all-but one of Iran’s players sang their national anthem 

They vowed to protest Tehran’s deadly crackdown on dissent earlier this year, when thousands were killed. They promised to boo the national anthem and turn their backs. They hoped Iran would lose.

Well, many did gather outside SoFi and make their opposition clear. Fans sold merchandise featuring pre-revolutionary symbols while, nearby, others chanted about a ‘team of terrorists’ and waved flags in support of the US, Israel and Trump.

One protestor held up a sign that carried pictures of Ghalenoei’s players. Their faces were crossed out with red tape and the caption was made to look as if it was dripping in blood. It read: ‘IRGC TEAM,’ a reference to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

As for those who came to cheer on this Iran team? They were branded ‘terrorist sympathisers’ and ‘supporters [of] the regime that murdered Iranians.’ 

Many activists brought ‘Lion and Sun’ emblems inside and the Iranian government had warned that would be enough for games to be halted. But that never came to pass. The mayhem was saved for after the final whistle.

SoFi Stadium is only a 15-minute drive from Iran’s hotel in Manhattan Beach but this team’s path to the 2026 World Cup began long before they touched down in LA. That short flight from Tijuana on Sunday represented only the final leg of a turbulent, months-long journey dominated by tension and mayhem.

Since war broke out with Israel and the United States in February, uncertainty has reigned: Where would their games be held? Would the team even turn up?

Donald Trump warned them not to – for their ‘own life and safety’ – and the buildup to this opening game was marred by threats and mudslinging. Iran moved its base from Arizona to Mexico; nearly a dozen members of its delegation were denied visas; Iran officials sent FIFA a list of conditions before agreeing to play. All while war raged back home.

Many Iranian-Americans around Los Angeles do not believe this team represents its people

Mohammad Mohebbi equalized for Iran in the second half to ensure this game finished 2-2

It hardly got any smoother after the team arrived in LA, which boasts the biggest diaspora of Iranians outside the country. Players faced protest outside their hotel and their open training session, with many in ‘Tehrangeles’ accusing the team of being a propaganda arm of the regime. 

Even after a peace deal was announced on Sunday, the uncertainty continued. Right up until a few hours before kickoff, when FIFA beat a lawsuit that attempted overturn its ban on pre-revolutionary flags.

By the time fans began streaming inside SoFi, that court case felt rather futile. There were pre-Revolutionary flags everywhere and the attitude of stadium staff was neatly summed up when one couple passed through the turnstiles before being stopped by security.

They were told they could not bring flag sticks inside. So the female fan simply removed the flags from their handles. No one cared that they carried a lion and sun. The fans were waved into the ground, flags in hand.

Shortly after, all but one of Iran’s players sang their national anthem. The exception – ex-Brentford star Saman Ghoddos – put his hand over his heart. Then a soccer game broke out.

One thing became clear over the next 90 minutes: Iran will need to be better than this to beat Belgium or Egypt in their final two group games. But as their players later pointed out, shortly before they were flown out of the country, it has hardly been an ideal build-up.