Demonstrators are set to target the Iranian national side during their opening World Cup fixture, vowing to make it ‘hell for them’. Iran are due to play their first group stage match on Monday in Los Angeles against New Zealand, having touched down in the United States on Sunday.
Their involvement in the tournament had been thrown into doubt following the conflict between the United States and Iran, though a deal to end hostilities was announced on the eve of their opening game. Nevertheless, the squad will take to the pitch against a backdrop of demonstrations from activists who have accused the team of ‘representing the government rather than its people’, according to The Mail.
Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian community outside of the country itself, and it is estimated that as many as 35,000 protesters will make their voices heard at SoFi Stadium both before and during Iran’s clash with New Zealand.
“We’re going to make it hell tomorrow,” one individual declared. “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.
“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.”
Attempts to defy FIFA by displaying pre-revolutionary flags at matches could place the Iran squad in an uncomfortable position, with their government stating that the team’s manager bears responsibility for halting games ‘if unofficial flags are brought or slogans against the national team are chanted.’
Nevertheless, Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei insisted on Friday that his players would remain entirely focused, regardless of the controversy swirling around them throughout the tournament.
“We don’t pay attention to any of the hype and anything that goes on around us,” he said, before adding: “We are not political people… football is separate from politics.”
Forward Mehdi Taremi also declared on the eve of the tournament: “We, the players of the national team, we play for every Iranian, be they diaspora or in the country.”