Iranian Fans Loudly Boo National Anthem at World Cup Opener Against New Zealand
Historic World cup protest during the Iran New Zealand match taking place in Los Angeles.
Thousands of Iranian supporters and other attendees booed the playing of Iran’s national anthem before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium on Monday evening.
The sustained booing was widely interpreted as a direct protest against Iran’s ruling Islamic Republic regime. Videos and eyewitness accounts from inside the stadium showed large sections of the crowd rejecting the anthem, with chants of “Free Iran!” and “Javid Shah!” (Long live the Shah) ringing out.
One account from the scene described the moment: “Thousands of brave Iranian patriots and others are booing the terrorist regime’s anthem… The IRGC tried to silence us. FIFA tried to silence us. The world tried to silence us. We will never be silent.”
The incident reflects long-standing tensions between segments of the Iranian diaspora — particularly in Los Angeles, home to one of the world’s largest Iranian communities — and the current government in Tehran. Many in the crowd view the Islamic Republic and its security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as oppressive.
Pre-match protests had already taken place outside the Iranian team’s hotel in Los Angeles, with demonstrators chanting against the regime and calling on players not to represent the government. Some protesters demanded the use of Iran’s pre-1979 Lion and Sun flag instead of the current national flag.
FIFA’s regulations prohibit political displays inside stadiums, and organizers have historically attempted to limit certain symbols and expressions. Despite those efforts, the booing of the anthem became one of the most talked-about moments of the opening match.
The match itself began with New Zealand taking an early 1-0 lead through Elijah Just in the 7th minute before Iran equalized in the 33rd minute. However, the pre-kickoff anthem protest quickly dominated social media discussion and highlighted the political fault lines surrounding Iran’s participation in the tournament.
Similar acts of dissent by Iranian fans have occurred at previous international football events, underscoring the difficulty of keeping politics out of sport when large numbers of opposition supporters are present in the stands.