MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Some Iranian Americans wave protest flags, others cheer as Iran open the World Cup

Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran

Iran began their World Cup campaign in Los Angeles on Monday with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand, before a crowd that mixed fans cheering the team and Iranian Americans waving symbols of protest against the government in Tehran. The match was played barely 24 hours after the announcement of a preliminary agreement to end the war that the United States and Israel launched against Iran in February.

At Los Angeles Stadium, in Inglewood, New Zealand twice took the lead through a brace from Elijah Just, but Iran equalized on both occasions, with goals from Ramin Rezaeian and Mehdi Mohebbi. The squad had arrived in the United States on Sunday from its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, where it had moved from Arizona in recent weeks.

Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran —many of its members fled after the 1979 Islamic Revolution— and several fans said they felt torn between excitement at seeing the team at the World Cup, anger at the crackdown in Tehran and concern over Washington's bombing campaign. Although most backed the side, known as Team Melli, many displayed the pre-revolutionary lion-and-sun flag, which predates 1979 and is now a symbol of protest; some booed the anthem or cheered New Zealand. Outside the stadium, between 300 and 500 people demonstrated with signs against the Iranian government and banners of the activist Reza Pahlavi.

Iran had threatened to halt matches if unofficial flags were brought in, and FIFA prohibits flags or apparel of a political nature. Hours before kickoff, a Los Angeles judge upheld FIFA's ban on the pre-revolutionary flag; security confiscated some, though dozens still made it into the venue. FIFA president Gianni Infantino was present.

The stances in the stands reflected the diaspora's divisions. “This team is not the team of the people of Iran,” said Farhad Jafargad, one of the fans who wore a t-shirt bearing the lion-and-sun emblem despite the warnings. Others called for setting politics aside: “We're very proud of our country. I think we should all let go of the politics and just go in and cheer on the Team Melli,” said Mehdi Jafari, 57.

Iran's presence in the tournament has been marked by controversy, against the backdrop of a war that left at least 7,000 dead, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, and which followed the January protests inside the country in which, according to reports, thousands died in a state crackdown. The Iranian federation complained that several of its members did not receive US visas and that tickets allocated to its fans were withdrawn. The team will face Belgium on Sunday, also in Los Angeles.