Iranian American Soccer Fans Torn Over World Cup Support

Divided diaspora grapples with political turmoil ahead of Iran's national team appearance

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:54am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, breaking a soccer match or competition down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in a palette of deep reds, blues, and golds, capturing the conflicting emotions and divided loyalties of Iranian American fans.The divided loyalties and conflicting emotions of Iranian American soccer fans are reflected in a cubist-inspired illustration of a tense World Cup match.Los Angeles Today

Many Iranian Americans are conflicted about supporting Iran's national soccer team at the upcoming World Cup, with some refusing to cheer for the squad due to the Iranian government's violent crackdown on protesters, while others plan to attend games and voice dissent against the regime. The team's participation is also uncertain due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Israel.

Why it matters

The Iranian national team's participation in the World Cup has become a lightning rod for the country's political and social divisions, with the diaspora community in the U.S. grappling with how to reconcile their love of the sport with their opposition to the Iranian government's human rights abuses. This reflects the broader challenges facing Iranian Americans as they navigate their identity and loyalties amid the turmoil in their homeland.

The details

Many Iranian Americans who once dreamed of supporting Iran's national team at the World Cup now feel conflicted, with some refusing to cheer for the squad due to the players' silence during the government's deadly crackdown on protesters. Others plan to attend games and use the platform to voice dissent against the regime. The team's participation is also uncertain, as Iranian officials have cast doubt on their involvement due to the country's war with the U.S. and Israel. Some former Iranian athletes have faced severe repercussions for speaking out against the government.

  • Iran's national team is scheduled to begin its World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 15 near Los Angeles.
  • Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump discouraged the Iranian team from taking part in the World Cup, citing safety concerns.

The players

Arad Ershad

A New York graduate student who grew up in Tehran and once dreamed of supporting Iran's national team at the World Cup, but now feels conflicted and plans to support Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal instead if the Iranian government remains in power.

Nader Adeli

Manages the over-60 squad of the Iranian American club team Arya FC in Los Angeles, and is concerned the ongoing war might prevent Iran from attending the World Cup, though he believes sports should be free from political issues.

Shiva Amini

A former women's national team player now living in New York City, who is among the Iranian ex-pats urging the U.S. administration not to grant visas to the men's team for the World Cup, citing the players' silence during the 2022 protests in Iran.

Masoud Ahmadi

A 62-year-old interior designer who plays for the largely Iranian American over-60 club team Sina FC, and plans to carry the pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian flag to protest the government if he secures a ticket to see Iran play.

Sasan Sadri

Manages Ahmadi's Sina FC team and says he will try to wear a shirt calling for leadership change in Iran if he gets a ticket to see Iran play, though he still supports the team as his countrymen.

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What they’re saying

“It feels so bad that I do not want them to succeed. They were like my icons, my legends.”

— Arad Ershad, New York graduate student

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

— Nader Adeli, Arya FC over-60 squad manager

“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. So those are not the Iranian national soccer team. Those are the regime's national soccer team.”

— Shiva Amini, Former women's national team player

“We're going to definitely raise our voice. This team is not an Iranian people's team. This is a government team.”

— Masoud Ahmadi, Sina FC player

“As my countrymen, I like them to achieve. I don't support the regime, but soccer is soccer.”

— Sasan Sadri, Sina FC manager

What’s next

The head of FIFA has insisted that Iran adhere to the World Cup schedule, despite the country's war with the U.S. and Israel. Iranian football officials recently met with the FIFA president to discuss the team's participation, and a final decision on whether Iran will compete is expected in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The conflicting emotions and divided loyalties among Iranian Americans over supporting their national soccer team at the World Cup reflect the broader challenges facing the diaspora community as they navigate their identity and political beliefs amid the ongoing turmoil in their homeland. This story highlights the complex interplay between sports, politics, and personal identity, and the difficult choices many Iranian Americans must make in reconciling their love of the game with their opposition to the Iranian government's actions.