The Mullahs’ Team: Split loyalties for Iran fans at World Cup
TLE DESK: Iran’s World Cup campaign opened in Los Angeles with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand amid goals, controversy and protests, as hundreds of demonstrators accused the team of being stooges for the Tehran regime. Protesters at SoFi stadium waved the pre-revolutionary flag and criticized the squad for remaining silent on alleged abuses by the Islamic republic’s leadership.
The large Iranian diaspora in the area, sometimes called Tehrangeles, was divided. Many opposed to the regime viewed the national team as “the mullahs’ team” and used the match to highlight crackdowns, including the January protests that killed thousands. Boos mixed with cheers during the national anthem, echoing tensions seen in past tournaments. Some fans inside the stadium displayed banned political symbols despite steward interventions.
Not all Iranian-Americans shared the view. Supporters urged backing the players who had worked hard to qualify, arguing sport should remain separate from politics. The controversy is heightened by the recent US-Iran conflict, which disrupted the team’s preparations including visa issues and a training base shift to Tijuana, Mexico. The squad’s participation remains clouded by politics, with players arriving wearing pins commemorating war victims and debates over player selections like the absence of Sardar Azmoun.
