Iranian American soccer fans torn over World Cup support amid political turmoil

Iranian Americans are torn ahead of the World Cup (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Arad Ershad, a New York graduate student who grew up in Tehran, once dreamt of splurging on flights and tickets to watch Iran’s national football team compete in the World Cup.

However, his enthusiasm waned after witnessing many of the players he had idolized since childhood remain silent during the theocratic leadership’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," he 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’s conflicted emotions are shared by many in the Iranian diaspora as Team Melli — the Persian nickname for Iran's national squad — prepares for its seventh World Cup appearance.

The team is scheduled to begin its campaign against New Zealand on 15 June near Los Angeles, a city home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran, including many who fled the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Arad Ershad (pictured) is not happy that players remained silent earlier this year (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The diaspora is deeply divided. Some view the men's team as complicit in whitewashing the Iranian government's repression and refuse to watch the competition.

Others plan to attend Iran's games to show their love for the country and sport, but intend to bear signs of protest. Still others maintain they will set politics aside and simply enjoy seeing Iran compete on soccer's biggest stage.

This participation, however, is not guaranteed. Iranian officials have cast doubt on the team’s involvement due to the country's war with the United States and Israel. Iranian football officials recently met with the head of Fifa, international football's governing body, who has insisted that Iran adhere to the schedule.

The Iranian team frequently finds itself entangled in political issues. Before a recent match in Turkey, players held small backpacks honoring Iranian children killed in a US missile strike on an elementary school – a gesture Iranian American fans interpreted as an allegiance to the government and a sign of the political pressure exerted upon them.

Iranian athletes have faced severe repercussions for speaking out. In 2022, a prominent former member of the national team was arrested for allegedly protesting against the country's leadership.

This year, star striker Sardar Azmoun was reportedly not selected for World Cup warm-up games due to a social media post that angered authorities.

Sardar Azmoun was reportedly not picked for World Cup warm-up games because of a social media post (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Concerns that Iran won’t take part

Nader Adeli, who manages Iranian American club team Arya FC's over-60 squad in Los Angeles, is concerned the ongoing war might prevent Iran from attending the World Cup.

Last month, US President Donald Trump discouraged the Iranian team from taking part, citing safety concerns. In response, Iran requested to move its matches to Mexico, a co-host of the event alongside the US and Canada, though the head of Fifa has repeatedly rejected such a move.

Adeli, who did not win the ticket lottery for one of Iran's two Los Angeles-area matches, believes the World Cup should be a moment to enjoy the sport free from outside distractions. However, with war raging, he doubts the team will travel, and even if it does, he questions whether the players could fully focus on competing.

"Sports should never become a political issue," he said. "As people, we have nothing against any Americans, we have nothing against any Iranians. It is just the governments."

Former women’s team player says Iran should not play

Shiva Amini, a former women's national team player now living in New York City, is among the Iranian ex-pats urging the Trump administration not to grant visas to the men's team for the World Cup.

The 36-year-old, who left Iran in 2017 after being photographed without a headscarf in Europe, said many Iranians grew disillusioned with the men’s squad during the 2022 World Cup.

Shiva Amini does not want Iran to play in the World Cup (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Players remained silent as Iran was rocked by street demonstrations over the country's mandatory headscarf laws following the death of Mahsa Amini.

"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."

Amini acknowledged that the few players who did speak out paid dearly, including Amir Nasr-Azadani, who faces years behind bars for his involvement in the 2022 protests.

Azmoun, the Dubai-based star striker who played for Iran's past two World Cup teams, was not picked for this year's warm-ups, reportedly for posting a social media photo of himself greeting United Arab Emirates political leaders.

Plans to cheer on - and protest - Iran

Masoud Ahmadi, a 62-year-old interior designer who plays for another largely Iranian American over-60 club team, Sina FC, is trying to secure a ticket to see Iran play.

If successful, he plans to make a stand against the Iranian leadership by carrying the country's lion-and-sun flag, which predates the Islamic Revolution.

Ershad is backing Portugal to win the World Cup (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Ahmadi, who was detained in Iran as a teenager before fleeing to Turkey and being granted political asylum in the US, 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 Ahmadi's team, said if he gets a ticket, he will try to wear a shirt calling for leadership change in Iran. "As my countrymen, I like them to achieve," he said. "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 will back Cristiano Ronaldo’s side to win it all.

"It's so hard to not cheer for your national team, but let’s go Portugal," he concluded.