Political tensions and security incidents in Iran's Belgium match at World 2026

However, as in previous tournament matches, attention was not focused solely on football, as the meeting was accompanied by political tensions and security incidents.

After the match ended, at least one person was arrested after attempting to enter the field wearing a lantern bearing the symbol of the Iranian flag of the period before the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Telegrafi reports. Periscope.

The claim that an official representative of the Iranian Football Federation attempted to enter the United States and was banned by authorities is an unquestioning and open lie”, the federation's statement said.

Mullin told Fox News that most nationals travel with about 120 people, while Iran was approved by a delegation of only 53 members. According to him, the rest of the people for whom the visa was required had ties to the IRC and were not part of the common sports delegation.

The Iranian Federation rejected these accusations, stressing that they do not rely on any evidence and constitute an effort to justify discriminatory treatment against Iran's representative.

Throughout the tour, Iran has repeatedly complained about the intervention of political issues in its sports participation.

Footballers and technical staff had earlier expressed disappointment over changes in travel organisation, as well as the ban on the entry of some officials and staff members to the United States.

The Federation has warned it will file an official complaint with FIFA.

midfielder Alireza Yahanbakhch said the team wants to focus on football and the next match against Egypt in Seattle.

We're not asking for anything more. We only ask to be treated the same as any 47 other nationals, he said.

Meanwhile, outside the stadium in Los Angeles, hundreds of protesters gathered to demonstrate against the Iranian regime.

Within the sports facility, both Iran's official flags and historical flags of the lion and the sun were viewed, symbols used before the 1979 revolution, while Belgian fans were not absent in the Tribonne. /Periscope