Iranian Fans Stage Anti-Regime Protest at New Zealand Match in California

Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand overnight, but the main story was the political protest inside the California stadium. A crowd of 70,108 watched as some Iranian supporters, many of them immigrants or children of immigrants, used the match to demonstrate against the Islamic Republic.

During the anthem, loud booing erupted, and fans raised Israeli and Palestinian flags alongside the flag of the Shah’s regime, the pre-1979 monarchy. Others entered carrying the Lion flag, which an American court allowed despite FIFA’s restrictions. A separate sign in the stands read, "Massacre. 42,000," a reference to those killed in the violent crackdown on anti-regime protests in January.

Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said he expected players to walk off the field if anti-government protests appeared, and said he had instructed coach Amir Ghalenoei to stop the match. That did not happen, and the game continued to its 2-2 finish.

Opposition supporters circulated numerous videos from the stadium on social media. The article noted that Iran also played during widespread anti-government protests at the 2022 World Cup.