Los Angeles’ Iranian Community Divided Ahead of National Team’s World Cup

Los Angeles – From saffron ice cream shops to kabob grills and Persian bookstores, the imprint of the Iranian community is unmistakable across Westwood, Los Angeles. With the pre-1979 revolution lion-and-sun flag flying everywhere and occasional portraits of opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, the community’s anti-regime stance is also clear.

Some protests have already taken place against the Iranian team’s (known as Team Melli) participation in the tournament. But as the national team gears up to start its World Cup campaign in Los Angeles on Monday, business owner Roozbeh Farahanipour said Iranian-American views on Team Melli are more complex than they appear. “The community is divided,” Farahanipour told Al Jazeera.

Some opposition activists see the team as an extension of the Tehran government’s system and plan protests outside the Los Angeles stadium. But many other Iranian-Americans simply want to watch the match and set politics aside. Protests are expected near the stadium as Iran begins its World Cup campaign against New Zealand. Anti-regime sentiment is prevalent in Westwood, nicknamed Tehrangeles, a stronghold of Pahlavi supporters. Still, Farahanipour said people here are not fully united on boycotting the Iranian team at the World Cup – or cheering for the US-Israel war against their homeland.

Farahanipour himself, a veteran opposition activist, opposes war but will not support Team Melli. “When this team takes the international field, to me, they represent the regime, the regime that would kill many of my friends and family,” he said.

Sudi Farokhnia, an Iranian-American community organizer in Los Angeles, has a different view. She compared supporting the Iranian team while opposing the government to cheering for the US while criticizing President Donald Trump. “I am anti-Trump like crazy, but last Friday when the US team played, I wore a US shirt, a US hat, and draped a US flag. I don’t know what the political views of the US players are… and right now I don’t care. That’s personal. I care that they represent the US,” Farokhnia said.

However, the Trump administration does not separate the team from the Tehran government. Team Melli was not allowed to stay in the US and had to base itself in neighboring Mexico, even though all their group stage matches are on the other side of the border – two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. On Sunday, as the Iranian team arrived in the US for their opener against New Zealand the next day, the prospect of renewed fighting between Tehran and Washington eased as the two sides agreed to a ceasefire. Yet this diplomatic breakthrough did little to reduce tensions around Iran at the World Cup. Some anti-regime activists are determined to protest against Team Melli, calling for demonstrations inside and outside the stadium on Monday.

A major point of contention is the display of the pre-revolution flag in the stands. Both the old flag and the official flag of the Islamic Republic feature three green, white, and red stripes from top to bottom, but the official flag has a stylized name of God in the center. While FIFA has not issued specific guidance on the lion-and-sun symbol, the world football body has a ban on political symbols that applies to that flag. It is unclear how authorities will handle fans displaying anti-government banners inside the stadium. Last week, Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali warned the team would pause play if “unofficial flags are brought in or anti-national team slogans are chanted in the stadium.”

Farahanipour criticized FIFA’s restrictions, arguing that US free speech guarantees should override the federation’s rules. “FIFA should only control the grass… in the middle of the field. FIFA has no right to talk about things outside the field; that’s US soil.” Sam Beykzadeh, a bookstore owner in Westwood, also condemned FIFA’s ban. “This is the flag of Iran,” Beykzadeh said, pointing to the lion-and-sun symbol overhead. He stressed that Team Melli represents the regime, not the people. “That team belongs to the regime. It is not Iran. The Iranian team is the 45,000 people the regime killed on the streets months ago,” he said, referring to anti-government protests in January this year. The Iranian government puts the death toll at 3,117, including security forces, blaming “rioters” backed by Israel. Beykzadeh predicted unrest at Monday’s match. “Monday will be a big conflict between Iranians and that regime… and its supporters they bring from elsewhere to fight the people.” US authorities appear to be stepping up security for the Iranian team. Al Jazeera saw multiple police cars escorting the Iranian team’s bus on Monday.

For Farokhnia, the hostility toward the Iranian team is irrational. She believes that after the failure of the US-Israel war to topple the government system in Tehran, some Iranian-Americans are redirecting their anger at Team Melli players. “When you feel powerless and have no power to make a difference where it really matters, you look for every other place to wedge yourself in. And coincidentally, the FIFA tournament is happening, so the players have to absorb all that hatred.” Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei told reporters on Sunday that the team wants to represent all Iranians at home and abroad, when asked about the planned protests by Iranian-Americans. “I am very happy to represent the strong and proud country of Iran. I hope football brings joy and excitement, brings cultures and nations closer together, and I hope the World Cup goes well despite the travel issues we have faced.” Iranian fans also face US travel restrictions. Yasmine Taeb, an Iranian-American human rights lawyer from Virginia, condemned the Trump administration’s treatment of Iranian players and fans, calling it “contrary to the spirit of the World Cup as an open global sporting event.” Taeb also criticized the protests against the team. “I think it is shameful, regrettable, and inappropriate. Sports bring together people from all backgrounds and beliefs, and Team Melli’s participation should certainly be viewed as a positive development,” Taeb told Al Jazeera.