Iranian protesters are planning to target the national team during their opening World Cup game against New Zealand, aiming to make it 'hell for them'. The match is set for Monday in Los Angeles, following Iran's arrival in the United States on Sunday. Their participation had been uncertain due to the war between the US and Iran, but an agreement to end the conflict was announced on the eve of the fixture.
Protests Planned at SoFi Stadium
The team will play amidst protests from activists who accuse them of 'representing the government rather than its people', according to The Mail. Los Angeles hosts the largest Iranian diaspora outside Iran, and up to 35,000 protesters are expected at SoFi Stadium, both before and during the game against New Zealand.
One protester stated: 'We're going to make it hell tomorrow. There are buses scheduled to leave from San Diego, Orange County, and different cities in LA to come to the stadium… we're going to have hell for them.' They added: '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.'
Pre-Revolutionary Flags Could Cause Issues
Plans to defy FIFA by bringing pre-revolutionary flags could put the Iran team in a difficult position. The Iranian government has said the team's manager is responsible for stopping games 'if unofficial flags are brought or slogans against the national team are chanted.'
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei insisted on Friday that his players will ignore the noise. 'We don't pay attention to any of the hype and anything that goes on around us,' he said, adding: 'We are not political people... football is separate from politics.' Striker Mehdi Taremi also stated: 'We, the players of the national team, we play for every Iranian, be they diaspora or in the country.'
