Iranian American Soccer Fans Grapple with Pride and Protest Ahead of World Cup
With the World Cup approaching in North America, many Iranian soccer fans in the United States are experiencing deeply conflicting emotions about their homeland's beloved national team. As Iran qualifies for its seventh World Cup, the diaspora community is torn between pride in their country's sporting achievements and protest against its political leadership.
Conflicting Loyalties Among Diehard Supporters
Arad Ershad, a New York graduate student originally from Tehran, had initially planned to splurge on flights and tickets to attend Iran's first-round matches in Los Angeles. However, his enthusiasm waned after witnessing how many players he had adored since childhood remained silent following the government's deadly crackdown on protesters in January.
"It feels so bad that I do not want them to succeed. They were like my icons, my legends," Ershad lamented during a recent pickup soccer game on Long Island. "I know playing a World Cup is the biggest thing a soccer player can achieve in his life, but how can you just be silent?"
Ershad represents one of many passionate soccer fans in the Iranian diaspora who face difficult choices as Team Melli prepares for its World Cup campaign. Iran is scheduled to begin against New Zealand on June 15 near Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran, including many who fled the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Diverse Responses Within the Community
The Iranian American community exhibits varied responses to the upcoming tournament:
- Some view the men's team as complicit in whitewashing the Iranian government's repression and cannot bear to watch the competition
- Others plan to attend Iran's games to show their love for the country and sport while bearing protest signs
- Still others intend to set politics aside and simply enjoy seeing Iran compete on soccer's biggest stage
All these scenarios assume the team actually participates, which Iranian officials have questioned due to the country's conflicts with the United States and Israel. Iranian soccer officials recently met with FIFA's leadership, who has insisted Iran stick to the tournament schedule.
Political Pressure on Iranian Athletes
The Iranian national team frequently finds itself entangled in political issues. Before a recent match in Turkey, players held small backpacks honoring Iranian children killed in a U.S. missile strike on an elementary school, a gesture that Iranian American fans interpreted as showing allegiance to the government.
Iranian athletes face serious consequences for speaking out. In 2022, a prominent former national team member was arrested for allegedly protesting against the country's leadership. This year, star striker Sardar Azmoun wasn't selected for World Cup warmup games, reportedly because of a social media post that angered authorities.
Concerns About Participation and Safety
Nader Adeli, who manages Iranian American club team Arya FC's over-60 squad in Los Angeles, worries that ongoing conflicts might prevent Iran from attending the World Cup. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump discouraged the Iranian team from participating, citing safety concerns.
In response, Iran requested to move its matches to Mexico, which is co-hosting the event along with the U.S. and Canada, though FIFA leadership has repeatedly rejected such proposals.
"Sports should never become a political issue," Adeli emphasized. "As people, we have nothing against any Americans, we have nothing against any Iranians. It is just the governments."
Women's Team Members Voice Opposition
Iran's women's team made headlines last month when several members didn't sing along to the national anthem before their opening match at the Women's Asian Cup in Australia. Although they sang it before subsequent fixtures, some interpreted their initial silence as protest against their government.
Shiva Amini, a former national team player now living in New York City, is among Iranian expatriates calling on the Trump administration not to grant visas to the men's team for the World Cup.
The 36-year-old athlete, who left Iran in 2017 after being photographed not wearing a headscarf in Europe, noted that many Iranians soured on the men's squad during the 2022 World Cup when players remained silent as Iran experienced street demonstrations over mandatory headscarf laws.
"They had a big platform, and instead of talking about that, they were laughing, they were so happy, and it was honestly a slap on the face," she said. "So those are not the Iranian national soccer team. Those are the regime's national soccer team."
Plans for Both Support and Protest
Masoud Ahmadi, a 62-year-old interior designer who plays for Iranian American club team Sina FC, is trying to secure tickets to see Iran play. If successful, he plans to protest the Iranian leadership by carrying the country's lion-and-sun flag, which predates the Islamic Revolution.
Ahmadi, who was detained in Iran as a teenager before fleeing to Turkey on foot and eventually receiving U.S. political asylum, stated: "We're going to definitely raise our voice. This team is not an Iranian people's team. This is a government team."
Sasan Sadri, who manages the team, said if he obtains a ticket, he'll try to wear a shirt calling for leadership change in Iran. "As my countrymen, I like them to achieve," he explained. "I don't support the regime, but soccer is soccer."
As for Ershad, the New York graduate student, he plans to support the Iranian team only if the government is overthrown before the tournament begins. Otherwise, he'll back Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to win the championship. "It's so hard to not cheer for your national team, but let's go Portugal," he concluded.
