Over 200 Iranian Diaspora Members Protest Outside LA Stadium Ahead of World Cup Opener

More than 200 members of the Iranian diaspora gathered outside Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday, waving Iran's pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flags. The demonstration occurred days before Iran faces New Zealand in its opening Group Stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 15 June in Los Angeles.

Protesters said they wanted to draw attention to ongoing political and human rights concerns in Iran while expressing opposition to what they described as the national team's ties to the Islamic Republic.

The gathering came amid controversy over FIFA's reported decision to prohibit the Lion and Sun flag from being displayed inside World Cup venues. The Lion and Sun flag is associated with Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and has become a symbol for many opposition groups and members of the Iranian diaspora, Euronews reported.