Iran National football team once again was in the spotlight in the USA as goal scorer Mohammad Mohebi celebrated his goal with a ‘gun firing’ celebration. Following this sparked a lot of controversy among the audience on social media.
The incident occurred during Iran's opening FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G encounter against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Team Melli twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw, with Mohebi finding the net in the 64th minute to rescue a crucial point for his side.
However, it was not just the goal that caught attention. The 27-year-old forward's celebration quickly became the talking point of the match. Mohebi, who currently plays for FC Rostov in Russia, appeared to imitate a gun-firing motion by pointing two fingers toward his arm before waving two fingers in the air with his right hand.
The gesture immediately triggered debate across social media platforms, particularly given the ongoing political tensions between Iran and the United States.
Iran's arrival for the 2026 World Cup in the USA had already attracted significant scrutiny, and the celebration only added to the conversation surrounding the team.
Mohebi Clarifies Celebration Amid Controversy
As criticism and speculation spread online, Mohebi addressed the issue after the match and insisted there was no deeper meaning behind the celebration.
"First, I wanted to say thank you to all the Iranian fans who came to watch in Los Angeles. They made a great atmosphere in the game. The celebration was just coming to mind, in the moment. I do it like this [gestures with his hands], and I wanted to do it like this for all the fans. It's just a celebration you know, and that's it," Mohebi stated.
Iran Face Hostile Atmosphere
Iran's opening fixture was played amid a tense atmosphere inside the stadium. Before kickoff, the Iranian national anthem were booed by sections of the crowd, while some supporters displayed pre-revolutionary flags in opposition to the current government.
Many Iranian fans in attendance were believed to be members of the country's diaspora community based in Los Angeles, with several displaying the Shir o Khorshid flag during the match.
The challenging environment prompted strong comments from Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei, who claimed his side had been treated unfairly during the tournament.
“After the game today they said to us, ‘You have to leave immediately,’” Ghalenoi said.
“Whereas today it’s very important for us to have recovery. We’ve been asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana and we are really troubled by that. They are forcing us to go back early. They are making the situation more and more difficult, more hurdles, but we’re not going to let that stop us from doing our best. Our federation isn’t here, our media isn’t here, our management isn’t here,” the Iranian coach added.
Mohammad Mohebi's Celebration Sparks Debate
Mohebi's equalising goal ensured Iran opened their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought point, but his celebration has continued to dominate discussions in the football community.
While the forward has dismissed suggestions of any political message, the gesture has nevertheless generated widespread reactions online as Iran's World Cup journey gets underway in the United States.