Iran midfielder Mohammad Mohebi has clarified the meaning behind his goal celebration during the FIFA 2026 World Cup opener against New Zealand, which was widely interpreted as a 'gun' gesture, according to Goal.com.
Mohebi's Explanation
Mohebi stated that it was "just a celebration" and that he wanted to say 'thank you' to all Iranians living in Los Angeles. He scored Iran's 64th-minute equaliser in the match at Inglewood, Los Angeles, helping Team Melli secure a 2-2 draw. However, his celebration drew more attention than the match itself.
After scoring, Mohebi pointed two fingers toward his arm before extending two fingers on his right hand and moving them through the air. Observers widely interpreted the gesture as resembling a 'gun' motion. However, Mohebi clarified after the match that it was simply a goal celebration with no deeper meaning or intent.
"I wanted to say thank you to all Iranians who live in Los Angeles, they make a great atmosphere. The celebration came to mind, and I do this [gestures] for all of the fans, just a celebration, you know," he said, as quoted by Goal.com.
Other Players' Celebrations
Defender Ramin Rezaeian also attracted attention after scoring and running towards supporters with his shirt covering his face. When questioned about his celebration, he admitted there was a political aspect to it but chose not to elaborate.
"It's something political (his goal celebration), I don't want to talk about that. We are here to answer football questions. If there is a problem between us (the Iranian people), it is between us," he said after the match.
Geopolitical Context
Iran arrived at the World Cup amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. The team shifted their World Cup base camp from Arizona to the Mexican city of Tijuana due to uncertainty surrounding entry arrangements to the United States. This move followed weeks of concern over whether members of the Iranian delegation would receive the necessary visas to travel for the tournament.
Match Summary
Iran and New Zealand played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in their World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. New Zealand took an early lead through Elijah Just, but Iran equalised via Ramin Rezaeian before half-time. New Zealand regained the advantage in the second half through Just's second goal, set up by Chris Wood, but Iran responded again with Mohammad Mohebbi's header to level the score. Both teams ultimately shared the points in a tightly contested Group G encounter.
