Protests in Los Angeles as Iranian Soccer Team Arrives for 1st World Cup Match

The Iranian soccer team kicks off its FIFA World Cup campaign with a group match against New Zealand in Inglewood, California, on June 15.

Iran players walk onto the pitch at the stadium one day before their FIFA World Cup match against New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2026. AP Photo/Andre Penner

Iranian Americans protested against the regime in Tehran as the Iranian soccer team arrived in Los Angeles for their first World Cup match against New Zealand on June 15.

As the team arrived at the Los Angeles Galaxy’s training ground in Carson, a small group of Iranian Americans shouted, “Down with terrorists!”