Iranian fans clashed at an extraordinary World Cup match in Los Angeles, with fights breaking out in the stands over political symbols. The game, held near Hollywood, saw Iran's players take the field to cheers from 35,000 Iranian expats who traveled across the US to support their team.
Emotional Start Turns Sour
Captain Medhi Taremi led his team out to wild cheers, and players wept as chants of 'Iran' echoed through the stadium. However, the harmony shattered when the national anthem of Iran's Islamic Republic was met with boos, highlighting the deep divisions among fans.
Clashing Symbols
Some fans wore shirts with 'Minab 168', referring to children killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on a school. Others reported being attacked for displaying the Iranian flag. Cancer nurse Kiani Alavi, 35, said she was confronted by a crowd of up to 50 people who told her to remove the flag from her 'a**'. 'It was terrible,' she said. 'I didn't expect anything like it. They insulted me and my family.'
Marjan Vayghan, 36, who was twice kidnapped by the IRGC, said security confiscated half-and-half US-Iran scarves and t-shirts with images of children killed by the militia. She managed to smuggle anti-IRGC stickers into the stadium. 'I don't care. I'm here to spread love,' she said.
Broader Context
The match was dubbed the 'World War Cup' due to political tensions. England fan Oliver Jenks, 34, said, 'Politics shouldn't play a part in football, but it does.' Iran was forced to move its tournament HQ to Tijuana, Mexico, after US officials denied visas to squad members who served with the IRGC, viewed as a terrorist group. Nine officials were barred from entering the US.
The game ended in a 2-2 draw, leaving all four teams in Group G level on points. Iran fought back twice from a goal down, with goals from Saman Ghoddos and others.
