Iran's team sang their national anthem before Friday's World Cup match against Wales. The team had opted not to do so in their tournament opener.
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The Iranian players had then stood impassively during their anthem before their 6-2 defeat to England on Monday in an apparent gesture of solidarity with anti-government protesters in the country.
Loud jeers were heard from Iranian supporters as the anthem played, with the team singing quietly as it played. This comes amid massive protests in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September. Iranian authorities have responded with deadly force to suppress the protests- one of the boldest challenges to government since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Ahead of the game, Iran forward Mehdi Taremi denied that his team had come "under pressure" from their government to sing the anthem at the World Cup.
{{/usCountry}}Ahead of the game, Iran forward Mehdi Taremi denied that his team had come "under pressure" from their government to sing the anthem at the World Cup.
{{/usCountry}}"I don't like to talk about political issues, but we are not under any pressure," Taremi said on the eve of the Wales game.