Iranian footballer Mohammad Mohebi became the center of a strong controversy during the 2026 World Cup. It all happened in the match that ended 2-2 between Iran and New Zealand, played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, as part of Group G.
After scoring the equalizer with a header in the 64th minute, the attacker from the terrorist country ran towards the stands where mostly Iranian fans opposed to the regime were concentrated and made a gesture simulating shooting with a gun. The image went viral immediately and generated outrage due to its level of provocation amid a war.
The political context weighed heavily. The Iranian team arrived at the tournament with strict immigration restrictions, setting up their base in Tijuana and entering the United States only to play the matches.
Reactions in the stands and the stadium
In the stands, flags with the crossed-out Islamic symbol predominated, along with others featuring the historic Persian lion and sun, which predate the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Some fans even turned their backs during the Iranian national anthem, which received a mix of applause and boos.
The Iranian community in Los Angeles, known as "Tehrangeles" and with around 600,000 people of Persian origin, was prominent. A huge banner was displayed in the stadium remembering the "42,000 #IranMassacre" for the victims of the regime in January 2026.
Mohebi, however, lied by downplaying the matter after the match. He claimed there was no political message behind it and that it was just a simple celebration. "First of all, I wanted to thank all the Iranian fans who came to see us in Los Angeles," declared the representative of the terrorist country in the mixed zone.
The Iranian national team is a propaganda tool of the regime, which increases the sensitivity surrounding the match.
