2026 World Cup: A Surprising Gesture by American Fans Toward the Iranian Team

After the final whistle signaled the 0-0 draw against Belgium, the players of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s national team did not head straight to the locker room. After greeting their opponents, they wanted to pay tribute to Los Angeles, the city home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran.

The team remained on the field for several minutes. Captain Mehdi Taremi gathered his teammates around him for a brief speech: in the center of a circle of white jerseys, his red jersey stood out—a gift he’d received in exchange for his own from Hans Vanaken, Belgium’s number 20. After a group hug, Team Melli walked around the perimeter of the field, waving to the crowd at SoFi Stadium—which was nearly sold out for the occasion, with about 70,000 spectators in attendance for the second match of Group G.

This match marks the end of the California leg of the journey for the team coached by Amir Ghalenoei. Los Angeles, the heart of the world’s largest Persian diaspora, had welcomed the national team’s arrival amid protests by many Iranian exiles who found refuge in the United States after the 1979 revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Iran’s next match will be on June 26 in Seattle against Egypt.

“It was a good game,” Ghalenoei commented after the 0-0 draw in Inglewood, on the southern outskirts of Los Angeles. “Either team could have won. For us, considering the difficulties we faced to get here, this is a historic result. It’s a day that will be remembered for a long time,” he said at a press conference.

The head coach then highlighted the team’s spirit: “We play with our hearts. Today we’re celebrating; starting tomorrow, we’ll get back to training to prepare for the match against Egypt.”

Team Melli had arrived in Los Angeles just 16 hours before kickoff, and a few hours after the match, they were already set to depart for Tijuana, in Mexico, where it has established its operational base due to the inability to obtain visas allowing for an extended stay in the United States during the tournament. On the eve of the match, Ghalenoei had reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino had assured him they would be able to travel to Seattle two days before the match. At this time, however, no official confirmation has been received.