Iranian-American fans experience troubled World Cup amid war
When Iran begins its World Cup campaign next week in Los Angeles, Iranian-American businessman Ehsan Shafi will be in the stands cheering on "Team Melli," a rare opportunity to welcome the team he so admires to his adopted homeland.
Instead of a moment of pure sporting celebration, however, the US and Israeli war against Iran has left fans like Shafi torn between the excitement of seeing the team on the world's biggest stage, anger at Tehran's crackdown on protesters and concern that Washington's bombing campaign has gone too far.
Reuters interviews with Iranian-American soccer fans in Los Angeles, home to the world's largest Iranian diaspora, along with an analysis of social media posts, show a community divided between pride in Iranian identity and rejection of the country's rulers, forcing many to consider whether to watch, attend or stay away from the tournament altogether.
"Every player wants to have the chance to play in the World Cup," said Shafi, 46, after playing a game on Sunday morning for Arya FC, an Iranian-American amateur club in the Los Angeles suburb of Woodland Hills.
"No matter what is happening in the world. We are very excited to see our national team." Still, Shafi recognized the tension.
"It's a very complicated situation," he said. "Nobody likes to see their country being bombed. It's very complicated for our people."
"Teerangeles"
Tens of thousands of Iranian-Americans live in Los Angeles, where a distinct diaspora, often called "Teerangeles," has settled.
"Team Melli," which means the national team in Persian, has long been a common symbol uniting this community with the country many fled after the 1979 Iranian revolution amid political unrest and repression.
Iran face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15-21 before traveling to Seattle to face Egypt on June 26. Shafi has already secured tickets and speaks with the optimism of a fan focused on the games and the rare chance to see the team up close.
This enthusiasm, however, is far from universal.
Arya FC teammate Shawn Rezaei came to the opposite conclusion.
A 59-year-old restaurant executive who left Iran during the revolution, Rezaei attended World Cups in Germany, Brazil, Russia and Qatar. Now, he says, it will be the first time he has been left out.
"I'm a die-hard football fan," he said. "But this time, because of the political situation, I'm boycotting."
Rezaei had initially applied for tickets in the US, but ultimately decided that he could not reconcile his support for the team with his opposition to the authorities in Tehran.
"This team does not represent the nation," he said. "They are basically a propaganda tool for the regime."
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Source: CNN