Anti-government Iranians celebrate US World Cup win as Mahsa Amini protests continue

Some Kurds were joined by other Iranians opposed to regime in cheering American victory over Iran

Face painting is always popular among US football fans. AP

A crazy wig is one way to get yourself on a stadium's giant screen. AP

Iranian fans love wacky wigs, too. Getty Images

Mike Moscrop from Orange County, California poses with Amir Sieidoust, an Iranian supporter living in Holland before the start of the 1998 USA vs Iran World Cup soccer match. AP

USA supporters wait for the start of the World Cup match between the US and Wales. AP

US supporters cheer their team before the start of the match between England and USA. AP

A supporter cheers for Team USA at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. AP

US flag gear comes in many shapes and sizes. AP

A young fan holds a US flag while waiting for the start of the World Cup match between England and USA. AP

USA and England supporters find friendship in the football stands. AP

USA supporters can be found in every corner of the stadium. AP

A fans creates a cape from a US flag. AP

USA supporters cheer even though the match with Wales ended in a 1-1 draw. AP

No doubt the American fans are happy to find McDonald's on hand at the World Cup. AP

USA fans take a selfie at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar. AP

Lucky Team USA fans with very good seats get ready for the action. AP

One Team USA fan came kitted out in a Wonder Woman costume. AP

The came, they saw and it was a draw. US fans watch the 1-1 match against Wales. AP

A USA supporter sports an American bald eagle head. AP

A Team USA fan wears a mask at Souq Waqif during the Fifa World Cup in Qatar. Getty

World Cup fans gather at Times Square, New York City, to watch the USA play England on November 25. Getty / AFP

USA and England play out their nil-all group stage match. Getty / AFP

World Cup fans pack into Times Square to watch the USA-England game. Getty / AFP

The naked cowboy made the World Cup rounds in New York's Time Square. Getty / AFP

Fans watch the USA in their World Cup Group B match against England from Public Bar Live in Washington. EPA

The nation's capital is full of Team USA fans. EPA

Like father, like fan. Dad and son cheer on Team USA. Getty

This American gentleman really gets into the spirit of things. Getty

These fans wear their US pride with smiles on their faces. Getty

Fans enjoy the pre-match atmosphere before the Group B match between England and USA. Getty

Iran fans show their support during the Group B match between Iran and the USA. Getty

Fans pack Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar. EPA

Football fans celebrate as the USA score in the first half against Iran at The Globe Pub in Chicago, Illinois. EPA

Iranian fans watch the match between their national football team and the USA on a giant screen at Milad Tower in the capital Tehran. AFP

A young fan cheers on his team. AFP

Iranian fans display flags during the match. AFP

Iranian Kurds celebrated the US beating Iran 1-0 in their crunch World Cup match on Tuesday night, letting off fireworks in the north-western region where many of the 10 million Kurdish minority live.

Following a tense build-up, the Group B match between the old foes was settled by a 38th minutes header from the US's Christian Pulisic — sending his country into the knockout stages of the Qatar World Cup at the expense of Iran.

The game at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha took place against the backdrop of more than two months of anti-government protests in Iran, in which between 300 and 450 people are reported to have been killed. About 15,000 demonstrators have also been detained.

These followed the death of Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, 22, in the custody of the morality police in September. She had been detained three days earlier in Tehran for wearing her hijab “improperly”.

Pulisic's goal and the final whistle were greeted with celebrations by some Kurds, who have long been marginalised in Iran, and other anti-government Iranians.

One video by Kurdish activist Kaveh Ghoreishi showed a neighbourhood at night in Sanandaj city, capital of Kurdistan province, with sounds of cheering and horns blaring after the US scored.

Videos posted online also showed fireworks being set off Mahabad city, in West Azerbaijan province, also in the north-west, following Iran's loss.

Following the death of Ms Amina in hospital on September 16, protests broke out in her home city of Saqqez, in Kurdistan province, igniting the nationwide demonstrations.

Saqqez residents were reported to have also celebrated the US scoring against Iran.

“Saqqez citizens have started to celebrate and use fireworks after America's first goal against Iran's football team,” said the London-based IranWire website on Twitter.

It shared a video showing fireworks with sounds of cheering in the background.

Some Kurds identify more closely with their ethnic heritage than their country of birth and wish to form an independent Kurdish state.

Economically marginalised, some of the poorest Iranian Kurds work in tough, manual jobs, including as kolbars — labourers employed to carry goods on their backs over cross-border mountain routes.

Some other Iranians also celebrated.

“Who would've ever thought I'd jump three metres and celebrate America's goal!” tweeted Iranian video game journalist Saeed Zafarany after the loss.

Others criticised the team for trying to balance seemingly acknowledging protests without antagonising the government.

In their opening match against England, the Iran team did not sing the national anthem, in what was viewed by some observers as support for protests. Subsequently, team members did sing the anthem.

Podcaster Elahe Khosravi tweeted: “This is what playing in the middle gets you. They lost to the people, the opponent, and even [the government].”

Iran-based journalist Amir Ebtehaj tweeted: “They lost. Both on and off the pitch.”