Iranian anthem booed in Los Angeles as pre-revolution flags appear despite FIFA ban

The World Cup Group 7 match between Iran and New Zealand in Los Angeles was overshadowed by political tensions in the region. Before kickoff at SoFi Stadium, the Iranian national anthem was met with loud boos, and many fans in the stands displayed the “Lion and Sun” flag associated with Iranian exiles and opponents of the ayatollah regime.

Security staff did not stop those flags from entering, even though FIFA had won a legal ruling allowing it to ban “Lion and Sun” banners on the grounds that they carry a political message and could spark disorder. The disputed case was heard in an emergency session the day before in a Los Angeles court after an Iranian supporter argued that FIFA’s ban violated free speech. The judge rejected that claim.

Before the stadium opened, security guards told The Athletic they had been explicitly instructed not to let in fans carrying flags or symbols from pre-revolutionary Iran. According to the report, some supporters wearing white T-shirts with a pre-revolution flag were stopped at the entrance, but one guard let them in after they covered the shirts.

The scene in Los Angeles became a visible protest against Iran’s Islamic Republic and a show of solidarity with critics of the regime, even as FIFA’s restrictions were supposed to prevent such displays.