Subtitled News: Up to 50,000 Expected in LA for World Cup Opener; "Match Could Be Halted," "They Aren't Our Team"

With Iran's first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup just one day away, Iranian-Americans have announced plans for anti-government protests in front of the stadium.

They plan to use the global attention surrounding the World Cup as an opportunity to express solidarity with Iranians oppressed by the Islamic regime.

Iran's opening World Cup match against New Zealand will be held in Los Angeles, which has the largest Iranian population of any city in the United States.

Many of the Iranian immigrants living there oppose the current Iranian regime, which took power after the 1979 Islamic Revolution ousted the Pahlavi dynasty.

This sentiment has intensified, particularly after the Iranian regime's violent crackdown on anti-government protests sparked by economic hardship this past January.

"We cannot sleep because of the brutal situation they are enduring," protesters said, explaining their reasons for organizing the demonstration.

They have been recruiting protesters from across California and expect between 40,000 and 50,000 people to gather around the stadium.

Some protesters plan to wave the Iranian flag used during the Pahlavi dynasty before the 1979 Islamic Revolution outside the stadium, while some are concerned about the possibility of protesters entering the stadium itself.

In fact, some protesters who purchased tickets told media outlets that they plan to wear T-shirts printed with the old Iranian flag, hidden under their outer garments, to enter the stadium.

FIFA prohibits the possession of political items inside the stadium, and the Iranian national team has pressured officials by stating they would have no choice but to stop the match against New Zealand if the Pahlavi dynasty flag appears in the stadium. However, the protesters say they do not care if the match is interrupted.

"They are not our team to begin with," one protester said in a media interview. "They are not a national team; they are the Islamic government's team, and it doesn't matter if they win or lose."

Reported by Kim Tae-won | Video by Kim Na-on | Graphics by Lee Jung-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.