In the stands and outside the stadium, Iran’s match against New Zealand became a battleground far beyond the pitch at Los Angeles Stadium.
For many Iranian-Americans in attendance, the game represented something much deeper than a group stage fixture at the 2026 World Cup.
Hundreds of pre-revolutionary flags bearing the Lion and Sun emblem were visible both inside and outside the ground, despite Fifa banning the symbol inside stadiums as a political gesture.
A few hundred protesters gathered outside the venue, angry at Fifa’s decision and at what they see as a national team that represents the Islamic Republic rather than the Iranian people.
“Mullahs’ team is not my team,” one group chanted, while another sang “Regime change in Iran” before breaking into the pre-revolutionary national anthem.
When asked to translate the anthem’s meaning, one young man simply smiled and said: “It means freedom and pride.”
Inside the stadium, the mood shifted dramatically, with roars of support greeting Iran as they twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
Thousands of Iranian flags filled the stands, and while they looked identical from a distance, up close they told a very different story, with some bearing the Islamic Republic’s emblem and others displaying the Lion and Sun.
Samaneh, an Iranian-American who has lived in the United States for a decade, captured the tension perfectly, saying: “I’m here to support Iran, not the regime. I miss my country.”
She revealed her mother remains stuck in Iran due to paperwork issues and President Trump’s travel restrictions, adding that she cried when Iran’s national anthem was played inside the ground.
Outside the stadium, protesters made clear their opposition extended beyond football, with Nini saying: “We don’t want a deal,” referring to the latest agreement between Washington and Tehran.
“The people of Iran deserve regime change. People were slaughtered on the streets of Tehran,” Nini added, voicing a sentiment shared by many in the crowd outside.
Farimah, wearing a T-shirt bearing the Lion and Sun emblem, said: “We can’t normalise what happened in January through a sporting event. This team doesn’t represent the people of Iran.”
Nearby, Kourosh stood with a makeshift noose around his neck, explaining it was “a symbol to stop the execution of brave and innocent people in Iran.”
The players have consistently pushed back against that characterisation, with striker Mehdi Taremi stating before the match that the team plays for all Iranians, at home and abroad, and does not get involved in politics.
Iranian-American Mostafa, heading into the stadium, agreed with that sentiment, saying: “Soccer is about friendship, cultural connections and putting politics aside.”
Pourmand, who travelled from San Diego and has attended the past two World Cups in Qatar and Russia, insisted: “The people of Iran are represented by these players. They’re here to show we’re worthy of being here — a message of friendship and human values.”
Iranian-American Elika also attended in honour of her father, who died in 2020, saying: “I felt compelled to come in honour of my dad, and in honour of Iranians who just want peace and the chance to enjoy a game like this. I try to separate the regime from the team.”
Politics has also overshadowed the team’s preparations off the pitch, with visa problems forcing them to relocate their base camp from Arizona to Tijuana, meaning players are competing in the United States while living across the border in Mexico.
What this opening match made abundantly clear is that however hard the Iranian players try to focus solely on football, the divisions among their supporters remain as deep as ever.
