Iranians in Los Angeles divided over whether to cheer or jeer World Cup team

Los Angeles is seeing a split among Iranian Americans as Iran prepares to begin its World Cup campaign against New Zealand. In the city's Westwood neighbourhood, known by many as Tehrangeles, some residents are planning protests near the stadium while others say they want to focus on the match rather than politics. The debate has become visible in shopfronts, community spaces and public displays of the pre-1979 lion-and-sun flag.

Sponsored

Several protests have already taken place against Iran's participation in the tournament, according to people in the community. Roozbeh Farahanipour, a business owner and veteran opposition activist, said the community is divided and that some activists see the national team as an extension of the government in Tehran. He said he would not support Team Melli, adding that the team represents a system he believes has harmed people close to him.

Other Iranian Americans in Los Angeles say backing the team does not mean backing the government. Community organiser Sudi Farokhnia compared the situation with supporting a national side while criticising a president, saying she can oppose a leader and still wear national colours for a match. That view reflects a broader tension in diaspora politics, where sporting events can become a stage for arguments over identity, loyalty and protest.

The dispute matters because the Iranian national team has long carried political meaning beyond football, especially for communities abroad with strong views about the Islamic republic. In Westwood, anti-government sentiment is described as prevalent, and the area has become a focal point for supporters of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last monarch. The World Cup fixture is therefore not only a sporting event but also a moment that could draw public demonstrations and sharpen existing divisions.

Sponsored

The article's account suggests that the community's response is shaped by both the current war involving Iran and the wider history of opposition to the post-1979 political order. The lion-and-sun flag, which predates the revolution, is being displayed alongside portraits of Pahlavi, signalling that some residents use the tournament to express rejection of the present government. At the same time, others appear reluctant to turn a football match into a referendum on national identity.

Farahanipour said he is against the war but still refuses to support the team, arguing that international appearances by the squad amount to representation of the regime. Farokhnia, by contrast, said she sees no contradiction in criticising the government while cheering for the players. Their comments show that the disagreement is not simply between supporters and opponents of Iran, but between different ideas of what the national team stands for.

The immediate question is how large any protests outside the stadium will be and whether they remain peaceful. It is also unclear how many Iranian Americans will choose to attend the match, watch from community venues or stay away altogether. What happens on match day will show whether the political divisions described in Westwood stay local or become a more visible part of Iran's World Cup presence.

#Iran #LosAngeles #WorldCup #IranianAmericans #protest

Sponsored