Fans supporting the Iranian government harassed those protesting against it and stadium security seized flags, T-shirts and other items expressing support for the protest movement that has gripped the country.
Some fans were stopped by security guards from carrying Persian pre-revolutionary flags to the game. Others carrying such flags had them ripped from their hands by pro-government Iran fans, who also shouted insults at fans wearing T-shirts with the slogan of the protest movement gripping the country, "woman, life, freedom."
The Iran players sang along to their national anthem before the match as some fans in the stadium cried and booed.
The national team has come under close scrutiny for any statements they make about the protests.
There were shouting matches outside of the stadium between fans who said "women, life, freedom" and those who said "the Islamic Republic!"
Three women were giving interviews to foreign media outside the stadium when a group of men surrounded them and shouted "The Islamic Republic of Iran!" Many female fans looked frightened as Iranian government supporters filmed them up close and personal.
Crowds of Iranian fans waving their national flags streamed out of the stadium. The protesters yelled "Victory!" to drown out the chants of Amini's name.
One 35-year-old woman named Maryam, who like other Iran fans declined to give her last name for fear of government reprisals, started to cry as shouting men surrounded her and filmed her face. Her face was painted with the words "woman life freedom".
"I'm not here to fight with anyone, but people have been attacking me and calling me a terrorist." Football doesn't matter if people get killed in the streets.
A group of friends wore hats with the name of an outspoken Iranian soccer player who was arrested in Iran on accusations of spreading propaganda against the government. The Iranian government supporters had taken their hats off.
The star member of Iran's World Cup team, who is Kurdish, didn't make the squad for this year's tournament.
The match became politicized this week. Mustafa, a 40-year-old Iran fan who also declined to give his last name, said that he could see people from the same country who hated each other. The arrest of Voria has had a negative effect on society in Iran.
Protesters in Iran are angry about the state mandated headscarf for women. There are calls for the downfall of the Islamic Republic. According to Human Rights Activists in Iran, at least 400 people have died in the protests.
Iran will play England in the opening match of the World Cup. Iran's players didn't celebrate their two goals in the game, as their national anthem was played before the game. They sang along to the anthem and scored two goals against Wales.
Shams said her flag was taken away because it had the word "women" written on it.
Shams said they are here to enjoy the games and give a platform for the Iranian people who are fighting against the Islamic regime.
The security guard at the stadium said that authorities had been given orders to take the flag of Iran.
She said that you are only allowed to bring in the normal flag if you talk about Iran or any other country.
An angry group of Iranian government supporters shouted at a 16-year-old Iranian boy living in Arizona who was wearing a Persian flag cape and putting it in his bag.
He said that other Iranians had approached him to say they appreciated the gesture.
A woman who refused to give her name for fear of reprisals scrambled after the game to get her hat and flag that had been taken by stadium security. She said that she was ordered to remove the names of Iranian protesters killed and arrested by security forces in order to appease Iranian government supporters. There was nothing left on her skin at the game.
She said that the football experience was the most intimidating she had ever experienced. She described a group of men who surrounded her and tried to smother her face with their Iranian flags, as well as a group of people who snatched her signs.
I don't care about the outcome. That's not something I'm focused on.
Iran's state television broadcasted patriotic songs after the game and showed people cheering. Many Iranians celebrated the victory, but there were still protests. There were videos on social media showing protests and gunfire in Zahedan. There were reports that protesters had been wounded, but the AP couldn't confirm it.
That's right.
Coverage of the World Cup can be found on the AP news website and on the AP sports website.
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