Hundreds of opponents of the Islamic Republic of Iran began gathering outside the Los Angeles stadium, a few hours before Iran's first national team match against New Zealand for the 2026 World Cup.
Holding Iran's old flag – the one used before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and bearing the emblem of the lion and the sun – protesters beat drums and chanted slogans against the national group, which they consider a Tehran propaganda tool.
"This group does not represent the Iranian people, but the regime," said Ava Amin, a philosophy student, who participated in the demonstration holding banners calling for "a change of status".
"When the people are murdered, they close their eyes and remain silent," he added.
Iranian activist Arezu Rashidi, an organizer of a rally outside the Los Angeles stadium before Iran’s World Cup match against New Zealand, told Iran International that fans would enter with the pre-evolution Lion and Sun flag in determination of FIFA’s ban. pic.twitter. com/olHWX0vlk9— Iran International English (@IranIntl En) June 15, 2026
The fight is conducted under strict security measures, as the crowded Iranian community of Los Angeles has been preparing this mobilisation for weeks.
Much of the Iranian diaspora strongly opposes the Islamic Republic and seeks to make use of the international visibility offered by the World Cup, in order to recall the rights violations and abuses of power that, he claims, have been committed by the regime for 47 years.
Small packs of protest against the current Iranian government outside SoFi Stadium before Iran’s World Cup opener against New Zealand. FIFA has banned Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag, but several fans said they were going to try to sneak them in. pic.twitter. com/tsBwgfM21— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) June 16, 2026
Several of the protesters held photographic mosaics with portraits of Iranians who died during the violent repression of popular movements against the regime last January. According to many non-governmental organizations, these conflicts caused thousands of deaths.
"We lost so many people in January," Amin continued. "When citizens seek freedom in Iran, they are killed. That is why we must be here. We are here to become their voice and raise our flag.".
Three hours before the center, journalists from the French News Agency met several protesters who had tickets to the match and wore T-shirts with the pre-revolutionary flag.
Many were planning to cover these symbols in order to pass them within the stadium. This flag is considered unacceptable by the Iranian authorities and, in principle, is also prohibited by FIFA regulations, which do not allow political symbols in the playing grounds.
Tehran has threatened to call for a halt to the fight if protesters manage to introduce the specific symbols at the stage.
The tension directed against Iran's national team is added to the multiple difficulties that "Team Melli" has faced in the face of the event, which is jointly hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Because of the war launched in late February by the United States and Israel against Iran, the country's participation in the World Cup remained uncertain until the last moment.
Instead of settling down in Arizona, as originally planned, the mission finally settled in Tijuana, Mexico, where it created its base. At the same time, the US authorities refused to grant a visa to about 15 members of the technical and administrative staff for the three group phase games held in the United States.
This is the first World Cup event in which a host country hosts a national team of state with which it is at war.
However, on Sunday, on the eve of the showdown, the United States announced an agreement that, according to Washington, aims to end hostilities with Iran.