Mohammad Mohebi explains 'gun' celebration in Iran vs New Zealand FIFA WC match
Inglewood, June 16
Iran midfielder Mohammad Mohebi has addressed the controversy surrounding his goal celebration during the team's FIFA 2026 World Cup opener against New Zealand, which many interpreted as a 'gun' gesture, according to Goal.com.
Mohebi said that it was "just a celebration" and that he wanted to say 'thank you' to all Iranians who live in Los Angeles.
Mohebi came into focus after scoring Iran's 64th-minute equaliser in the match at Inglewood, Los Angeles. While the goal helped Team Melli secure a 2-2 draw, his celebration quickly drew more attention than the match itself.
After scoring, Mohebi was seen pointing two fingers toward his arm before extending two fingers on his right hand and moving them through the air. The gesture was widely interpreted by observers as resembling a "gun" motion.
However, after the match, Mohebi clarified 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.
Defender Rezaeian had 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 go into further detail.
"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.
Notably, Iran arrived at the World Cup amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran. Iran had even shifted their World Cup base camp from Arizona to the Mexican city of Tijuana following uncertainty surrounding entry arrangements to the United States. The move came after weeks of concern over whether members of the Iranian delegation would receive the necessary visas to travel for the tournament.
Coming to the match, 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 as both teams ultimately shared the points in a tightly contested Group G encounter.
— ANI
Reader Comments
🙄 Why does everything have to be a controversy? A footballer scores a goal in a World Cup, does a unique celebration to thank fans, and suddenly it’s a "gun" gesture. Let the man enjoy his moment. Meanwhile, Rezaeian’s celebration was clearly political but he didn’t explain either. As an Indian, I find it interesting how different nations express their realities through sports.
The real story here is how geopolitics affected Iran’s preparation. Shifting base camp from Arizona to Tijuana? That’s a logistical nightmare. Our cricket team faces visa issues too sometimes, but to change your entire World Cup base? That shows the pressure these athletes face. Their 2-2 draw against New Zealand shows remarkable resilience. Mohebi’s celebration is just a footnote.
I’m a bit skeptical. When you score against a country that has tensions with your government, doing a "gun" gesture is bound to be interpreted as hostile. Mohebi should have been more careful, knowing the media scrutiny. But also, Rezaeian literally said his celebration was political! So why is everyone focusing on Mohebi? Seems like selective outrage. 😒
As an Indian who follows football closely, I find it sad that World Cup moments get politicized. This is a game – a beautiful game. Iran played with passion against New Zealand, and Mohebi wanted to thank the Iranian diaspora in LA. Yes, there are tensions, but sometimes a celebration is just a celebration. Let’s focus on the actual football – a 2-2 draw in a tough group is exciting!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.