A social media rumor claimed that Iranian soccer player Mohammed Mohebi was deported from the United States after a FIFA World Cup match. The claim stated that Mohebi made a “gun gesture” while celebrating a goal against New Zealand on June 15 and was subsequently deported by the Department of Homeland Security.
The rumor gained traction online, with one X post about the alleged deportation accumulating millions of views. This coincided with discussions between leaders of Iran and the US regarding a potential deal to end a conflict in the Middle East.
However, the claim is false and originated from a satirical account. While Mohebi did make a gesture mimicking a gun after scoring in the 2-2 match, there is no verifiable evidence to support his deportation from the US for this action. A search for such an event yielded no reports from reputable news organizations.
Separately, reports did emerge about the Iranian team being instructed to leave the US shortly after their match against New Zealand, with plans to return to their training base in Tijuana, Mexico. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed surprise at the swift departure, stating they were told to leave “immediately” and did not have time to recover. He suggested that decisions regarding the team were being made by external parties.
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