[Sportschosun reporter Jang Jong-ho] A violent brawl broke out among Iranian fans right after Iran's World Cup group-stage match against New Zealand, sparking controversy.
The clash reportedly involved pro-regime fans and pro-monarchy fans in Iran.
According to U.S. media outlets including the New York Post, the Iran national football team earned one point after drawing 2-2 with New Zealand in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage on the 15th local time.
Trouble began in the stands after the match ended.
The exact trigger for the fight has not yet been confirmed, but video taken inside the stadium stands clearly showed several men exchanging punches and crashing into one another. In particular, one man repeatedly threw punches and knocked another man to the ground. The brawl ended only after security personnel and officials rushed in to stop it. One of the men involved was identified as wearing a white shirt featuring the old pre-Iranian Revolution flag, known as the Sun and Lion flag. The scene is being interpreted as a sign of the conflict between pro-regime and pro-monarchy fans in Iran.
The situation outside the stadium was just as tense. Another video showed pro-regime demonstrators and pro-monarchy demonstrators shouting at each other in a standoff.
Anti-regime protesters who support the restoration of the Pahlavi dynasty strongly protested by chanting the name of Reza Pahlavi, Iran's last monarch.
A pro-monarchy social networking service (SNS) account shared the video and lashed out, calling them "supporters of terrorists" and saying, "It is so shameful that they are everywhere." Meanwhile, the United States government and Iran have agreed to end hostilities and are scheduled to formally sign a peace agreement on June 19. That would mark the moment gunfire finally falls silent, 112 days after the United States and Israel bombed Iran on February 28.
Jang Jong-ho, bellho@sportschosun.com
