Iran vs. New Zealand Match Becomes Stage for Political Protest and Support

A World Cup group-stage match between Iran and New Zealand in Los Angeles was overshadowed by intense political protests outside the stadium and in the stands, against the backdrop of the recent Washington-Tehran agreement. Hundreds of Iranian-American demonstrators gathered outside and waved pre-revolution Iranian flags bearing the lion and sun emblem. They protested FIFA’s decision to bar those flags from the stadium as political symbols, and some chanted, “The regime’s team is not my team,” while others sang the pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian anthem.

One protester stood outside with an improvised noose around his neck to denounce what he described as the execution of innocent people in Iran. He and other demonstrators said the national team represents the current regime, not the Iranian people. Inside the stadium, however, the match also drew loud support for the players, who came back twice and finished 2:2 with New Zealand.

Thousands of flags were raised in the stands, including both Islamic Republic flags and lion-and-sun flags. Samana, an Iranian-American living in the United States, said, “My mother is stuck in Iran because of Trump’s paperwork and travel restrictions. I’m here to support Iran, not the regime.” Before the tournament began, the team had already made headlines because visa delays forced it to move its training camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico.

Despite the recent agreement between Washington and Tehran to end the war between the countries, fans interviewed by international media said, “January events must not be normalized.” At the same time, players and some supporters rejected attempts to tie football to politics. Striker Mehdi Taremi said the team plays for all Iranians, inside Iran and abroad, and does not engage in politics. Fans Mostafa and Alika also said they wanted to focus on the match and separate the regime from the national team.