Diaspora Divided: Iranian Americans Root Against Iran’s World Cup Team

Iranian Americans in Los Angeles and elsewhere are choosing not to root for Iran at the World Cup because the Islamic Republic flag on the team’s jerseys signals the regime they oppose. The debate highlights diaspora politics, FIFA's ban on political symbols, and the tension between national pride and opposition to the government as matches unfold in host U.S. venues, with potential implications if the U.S. and Iran meet on the field.