INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Iranian American community is deeply divided over Iran’s presence at the World Cup, with some planning to rally outside the stadium and others gathering to cheer the team on as it faces New Zealand in its opening match Monday.
The planned protest will take place outside the stadium near Los Angeles, which is home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran itself. Many of Southern California’s Iranian Americans came to the United States following the Islamic Revolution, and an area roughly 10 miles from the stadium — packed with restaurants, shops, and markets — has earned the nickname “Tehrangeles.”
Protesters intend to wear lion-and-sun T-shirts and carry the Iranian flag that was used before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, as a show of opposition to Tehran’s deadly crackdown on dissent this past January.
Ali Javahery, a 59-year-old consultant born in Iran who now lives in Orange County, California, said he will be standing outside in protest rather than watching the match. He believes soccer and politics cannot be separated, and while he has a deep love for the sport, he feels the national team’s players are pressured to align with the Iranian government’s stance.
“This is not ‘Team Melli,’” Javahery said, referring to the team’s Persian nickname. “This is Team Islamic Republic.”
Iran’s involvement in the tournament has been complicated by the country’s ongoing conflict with U.S. and Israeli forces. The team relocated its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Mexico, and several key Iranian soccer officials were denied visas to enter the United States. Many in the diaspora are wrestling with how to express solidarity with the Iranian people — without appearing to support their government — through their shared passion for the sport.
Team captain Mehdi Taremi addressed the tension at a press conference Sunday. “We play for every Iranian, be it in the diaspora or in Iran. People have different opinions, but we are here to unite people and we will try to bring joy to all Iranians wherever they live,” he said. “We are here to bring joy to Iranian people. We do not get involved in politics. We are here to play football.”
Reza Garajedaghi, 57, said he plans to watch the game alongside his 96-year-old father in San Diego. He chose not to purchase tickets, in part due to the steep prices, but said he backs the team regardless of politics, while acknowledging the wide spectrum of opinions held by Iranians living abroad.
“I’m a football die-hard, and the boys, they’re representing all Persians, Iranians around the world,” said Garajedaghi, who left Iran at age 10. “To me, it has nothing to do with whatever government they have in Iran.”
Watch parties have been organized throughout Southern California, and when Iran was placed in the Los Angeles bracket last year, many fans snapped up tickets. However, in recent months, some have sold those tickets in frustration following January’s violent crackdown.
The political pressure surrounding the team is not new. In 2022, a well-known former member of the national squad was arrested for allegedly speaking out against the country’s leadership. This year, star striker Sardar Azmoun was reportedly left off the World Cup roster after a social media post drew the ire of authorities.
Iran’s coach, Amir Ghalenoei, called Azmoun “an excellent player” and said he wished the striker had been part of the squad.
When asked Sunday about the large Iranian diaspora expected near the stadium, Ghalenoei expressed gratitude. “I am just happy that they are coming to watch us and I hope that they will pray for us and I hope that they will encourage us,” he said, adding that he hoped the team would reward that support with a strong performance.
A separate dispute has emerged over FIFA’s ban on political flags inside the stadium. Many Iranian Americans wish to display the pre-revolution lion-and-sun flag, which is not Iran’s current official flag. The Iranian American Institute for Voices for Liberty announced it filed a lawsuit in California last week challenging that FIFA rule.
During Friday’s opening ceremony in Los Angeles, much of the predominantly American crowd booed when Iran’s flag was carried onto the field.
Late Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that the United States had reached an agreement with Iran to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict, which was launched by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, has destabilized the region and largely halted oil and natural gas shipments out of the Persian Gulf. A formal signing of the deal is expected Friday, though specific terms have not yet been released.
