Mohammad Mohebi's goal celebration sparks debate in Iran's World Cup qualifier

Iran midfielder Mohammad Mohebi found himself at the centre of online debate following his celebration during Iran's 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Mohebi was one of Iran's standout performers on the night, scoring the crucial equaliser in the 64th minute to help his side earn a valuable point in Group G. The goal came from a well-worked move down the right flank, with Ramin Rezaeian delivering an inviting cross into the penalty area. Mohebi timed his run perfectly and powered an uncontested header beyond the New Zealand goalkeeper to make it 2-2. However, attention quickly shifted from the goal itself to the celebration that followed.

The 'Gun' celebration controversy

After finding the net, Mohebi ran toward the stands and appeared to make a gun-shaped hand gesture. The celebration immediately triggered widespread discussion on social media, particularly given the politically charged atmosphere surrounding the match. Against that backdrop, some social media users viewed the gesture as inappropriate and called for football authorities to review the incident.

Iran national anthem met with hostile reception

Before kick-off, the playing of Iran's national anthem was met with a mixture of cheers and loud boos from different sections of the crowd. The match was held in Los Angeles, which is home to one of the world's largest Iranian diaspora communities, and the contrasting reactions highlighted the divisions that continue to exist among Iranians living abroad.