Ahead of their 2026 World Cup match against New Zealand, players of the Iranian national team were seen singing the national anthem on the pitch, according to video circulating on social media and reported by Israeli channels. The event takes place amid ongoing domestic tensions in Iran and follows earlier flag-related controversies at the tournament.
This morning, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group B match between Iran and New Zealand, footage showed Iranian national team players singing their national anthem on the field. The moment draws attention because of the political context: Iranian players notably refrained from singing the anthem during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in a gesture of solidarity with anti-government protests back home. That same tournament also saw Iranian monarchy-era flags displayed by fans, prompting threats from Iranian officials. The current match takes place against a backdrop of continued unrest and a tight security atmosphere around the Iranian team. The video, widely shared on Israeli Telegram channels, has not been independently verified by FIFA or Iranian state media as of this writing.
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