Flag Wars and Anthem Protests At Iran's Opening World Cup Match
At Los Angeles Stadium, there were arguments and confrontations between supporters and opponents of the current Iranian government. But they also sometimes united to cheer on 'Team Melli.'
Opponents of the current Iranian regime showed up in huge numbers for Iran's opening World Cup match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday night. Outside of the stadium, a large group of anti-government protesters assembled to call for the end of the current regime.
Inside the stadium, many fans waved the "Lion and Sun" flag (a symbol of opposition to the current Iranian government) throughout the game, despite a court ruling just hours before kickoff, which upheld FIFA's right to ban the flag. But security guards eventually stopped trying to stop fans from waving the flag -- there were just too many of them.
When the game kicked off, fans overwhelmingly supported and cheered for 'Team Melli.' And fans waving both the Lion and Sun flag and the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran sometimes united in cheers of, "Iran! Iran!"