Iran's national team faces a wave of protests at their World Cup opener against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with activists vowing to make it 'hell for them'. Up to 35,000 demonstrators are expected to gather, accusing the team of representing the government rather than the people.
Protest Plans and Scale
Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian diaspora community outside Iran, will see buses arriving from San Diego, Orange County, and various LA cities. Activists plan to boo the Iranian national anthem and turn their backs during its playing, displaying pre-revolutionary flags.
One activist declared: 'We're going to make it hell tomorrow. We're going to boo the anthem that is going to play. We're going to turn our backs during the anthem so we will have our flags showing.'
FIFA and Government Response
Attempts to display pre-revolutionary flags could place the Iran squad in a difficult position. The Iranian government has stated that the team's manager is responsible for halting games if unofficial flags are brought or slogans against the national team are chanted. FIFA has been warned about the potential for disruption.
Team's Stance
Despite the controversy, Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei insisted on Friday that his players remain focused. 'We don't pay attention to any of the hype and anything that goes on around us. We are not political people... football is separate from politics,' he said.
Forward Mehdi Taremi added: 'We, the players of the national team, we play for every Iranian, be they diaspora or in the country.'
Context
Iran's involvement in the tournament was thrown into doubt following the conflict between the United States and Iran, though a deal to end hostilities was announced on the eve of their opening game. The team arrived in Tijuana on Sunday before crossing into the US.
The match is scheduled for Monday, with protests expected both before and during the game. The situation underscores the ongoing tensions between the Iranian regime and its diaspora, with football becoming a platform for political expression.
