World Cup: Iran’s National Anthem Loudly Booed vs Belgium

He joined in April 2024, having previously worked at VAVEL as Deputy Editor-in-Chief, where he produced a variety of content, including pieces from press conferences and games. He also won an award for his role as lead editor for the Women's Football section of the online newspaper.

Covering football all across Europe, he has worked at stadiums such as Anfield, Old Trafford, and Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park, as well as having reported at both the 2023 men's and women's Champions League finals in Eindhoven and Istanbul.

He is infatuated with every aspect of football, but likes other sports as well, being an avid coffee-desperate Buffalo Bills supporter from across the pond and a darts' newbie. Sign in to your GiveMeSport account Political tensions continue to take an iron grip over the 2026 World Cup, with the reaction to Iran's national anthem being played ahead of their second group stage match vs Belgium prompting a big reaction at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium on Sunday night.

Team Melli had previously faced New Zealand in a 2-2 draw at the same stadium last week. They were able to brush tension aside briefly to allow themselves a chance of making it to the Round of 32 across the pond, despite several visa issues and sub-plots getting in the way of their focus.

A win over Belgium, who are above Germany and in ninth in the FIFA World Rankings, is unlikely. But should they pull off a miracle, they'd head into a final group match vs Egypt with everything on the line.

Just like last week, boos could be heard ringing around the venue once again. Although it remains uncertain who is responsible for the strong reaction, American neutrals will have no doubt played some role, given the context of the ongoing conflict between the two countries in the Middle East that dominated headlines heading into this summer. Watch the national anthem being played below:

It is also believed that, again, Iran have broken an enforced FIFA rule change as they brought their pre-revolutionary flags into the home of the LA Chargers, despite Gianni Infantino deciding they should be banned from doing so to avoid unwanted provocation.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei has claimed he has been shunned by the other 47 managers at the World Cup and said his squad had suffered further disruption after Fifa’s attempts to fix their latest travel chaos failed. They flew into Los Angeles on Saturday lunchtime local time before their second Group G game against Belgium.

Ghalenoei - who said Iran felt “robbed” over their treatment by World Cup organisers - claimed, as per Yahoo Sports, that none of his managerial counterparts at the tournament have responded to his questions. “We have many challenges, especially off the pitch,” the Iran coach said. “I asked the 47 other coaches a question and none of them have responded to me.”

FIFA have been told to take action after the goal celebration sparked outrage

Asked if felt the support of the other nations, Ghalenoei added: “No, I have not seen [that]. I have not had any reaction from any one. But it seems like the honourable coach of Belgium [Rudi Garcia] said [in his press conference] we are here for football and not politics.

“Our grievances are to do with the way they [World Cup organisers] have behaved towards us. I’ve not heard from other coaches, they are busy with their own teams, and we did not receive anything. I would have done [it].”