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Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 16Iran Scores 1 Goal Against New Zealand as Banned Lion and Sun Flags Appear
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 16Summary
- Iran found the net in its Group G match against New Zealand, triggering a loud eruption inside Los Angeles Stadium during the first half.
- Fans briefly thought Iran had taken the lead just before halftime, but that hope was cut short after another surge of noise in the ground.
- Inside the stadium, cheers for the team contrasted with chants outside against both the side and Iran's regime.
- Despite FIFA's ban, several lion and sun flags and T-shirts were visible in the stands, underscoring the match's political undertone.
Insights
With US courts upholding FIFA's rules, will the 2026 World Cup become a new battleground for free speech? When a historic flag is banned, can cheering for a team ever be truly separated from politics?