President Donald Trump announced late Sunday that the U.S. had reached a deal with Iran to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz, a conflict launched by U.S. and Israeli forces 4 months ago on February 28. This war has rattled the region and virtually shut down oil and natural gas shipments from the Persian Gulf, revealing the deep material stakes underlying the current World Cup tournament.
Iranian Americans are divided over Iran’s participation in the World Cup, with some planning protests outside the stadium near Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran. These rally participants intend to wear lion-and-sun T-shirts and wave the country’s flag from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, directly protesting Tehran’s deadly January crackdown on dissent.
Ali Javahery, a 59-year-old consultant born in Iran and living in California’s Orange County, stated he would be protesting outside Iran’s opening match against New Zealand. Javahery asserted that soccer and politics are intertwined, claiming the national team’s players are under pressure to adhere to the Iranian government’s positions. He referred to the team as “Team Islamic Republic,” rather than “Team Melli,” its Persian name.
The State's Hand in Sport
Iranian athletes have faced serious consequences for speaking out against the state. A prominent former member of the national team was arrested 4 years ago in 2022 for allegedly protesting against the country’s leadership. Star striker Sardar Azmoun was not selected for the World Cup squad this year, reportedly due to a social media post that angered authorities, despite coach Amir Ghalenoei calling him an “excellent player.”
FIFA’s rule barring political flags from being flown has also drawn criticism from some Iranian Americans who wish to fly the pre-revolution lion-and-sun flag, which is not the official flag of Iran. The Iranian American Institute for Voices for Liberty filed a lawsuit last week in California to challenge this FIFA rule, highlighting the institutional mechanisms that attempt to depoliticize public displays.
During the opening ceremony in Los Angeles 3 days ago on Friday, June 12, members of the mostly American crowd booed when Iran’s flag was brought onto the field, signaling widespread public discontent. The team’s participation has been fraught with conflict due to the ongoing war, leading to the team moving its training base to Mexico from Tucson, Arizona. Furthermore, some of the country’s key soccer officials were not granted visas to enter the United States, illustrating the direct impact of imperial policy on the sport.
Profits and Depoliticization
While watch parties are planned in Southern California to cheer on the team, the economic barrier of “sky-high pricing” for tickets prevented some, like Reza Garajedaghi, 57, from attending. Many in the diaspora have expressed mixed feelings on how to support the Iranian people without endorsing the government through their love of soccer. Some who bought tickets last year when Iran was assigned to play in Los Angeles have since sold them off in anger following January’s brutal repression.
Team captain Mehdi Taremi, speaking at a press conference Sunday, attempted to separate the team from the political context, stating, “We are here to unite people and we will try to bring joy to all Iranians wherever they live.” He added, “We do not get involved in politics. We are here to play football,” a statement that serves to obscure the structural pressures on the team and the broader geopolitical conflict.
Reza Garajedaghi, who will watch the game with his 96-year-old father, affirmed his support for the team “politics aside,” stating, “To me, it has nothing to do with whatever government they have in Iran.” This perspective, while common, overlooks the material conditions and state repression that define the team’s participation and the lives of Iranian people. Details of the deal to open the Strait of Hormuz, expected to be signed Friday, were not available at the time of reporting, but its announcement underscores the economic interests at play in the region's conflicts.