In the blocks of Westwood, in Los Angeles, you can find Iranian markets, bakeries and shop windows written in Farsi.
In front of establishments, it is common to see the old Iranian flag, with the lion and the sun, a symbol of the country before the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought the current regime to power.
There is one of the largest Iranian communities outside of Iran, a concentration that gave it its own surname: Tehrangeles, a mix of Tehran and Los Angeles.
According to the Pew Research Center, the Iranian population in the US was estimated at 740,000 people in 2024, with half living in the state of California and 230,000 living in and around Los Angeles.
Spread along Westwood Boulevard, about 15 kilometers from the stadium where Iran and Belgium face this Sunday (21) in the World Cup, the region preserves traces of Iranian culture amidst the typical American landscape, sharing space with chain stores such as 7-Eleven and Starbucks coffee shops.
On the eve of the match, however, football shares space with another debate.
Among members of the Iranian diaspora, there are those who want to support the national team and those who defend a boycott of the team, considering it a symbol of the authoritarian regime that governs the country.
Among those who do not wish to watch the Iranian national team is Roozbeh Farahanipour, 54.
A restaurant owner in Westwood and one of the best-known voices of the Iranian opposition in Los Angeles, he arrived in the United States in 2000 after participating in the student protests that challenged the regime the previous year.
According to Farahanipour, his role in the movement earned him a death sentence in Iran. For 26 years, he has lived in the United States, where he became an activist and leader of the exiled community.
Farahanipour says he doesn’t intend to follow the game. “I’m allergic to the Islamic Republic. I don’t want to watch it. I don’t want to hear the national anthem. I don’t want to see the flag,” he says.
Opposition to the current regime tends to adopt the old flag, with the sun and lion, and considers the current one to be a symbol of a regime that represses the population.
The old flag was vetoed by FIFA, but fans showed it in the first game. Displaying the symbol, vetoed by Iranian authorities, is in contradiction with the federation’s regulations, which prohibit political demonstrations at its sporting events. Tehran has even threatened to suspend the match if this occurs.
Farahanipour criticizes FIFA’s attitude during the tournament. According to him, the entity made a mistake in restricting certain political symbols and demonstrations in stadiums. “This is the land of freedom”, he states, in relation to the USA.
For the activist, it is up to the fans to decide which flags and messages they want to take to the stands.
Despite criticism of the Iranian regime, Farahanipour says he understands both the protesters who intend to protest during the games and those who prefer to just watch the matches. “This is a free country.”
For him, the team represents the Iranian government and cannot be dissociated from the regime. “When they wear the shirt of the Islamic Republic, for me they become part of the regime’s public relations operation.”
The position, however, does not prevent him from showing sympathy for the athletes. Farahanipour says he knows some players and says he believes they understand his criticisms. According to him, many use the national team as a showcase to showcase their talent and seek opportunities abroad.
“Individually, I like them,” he says, as he shows photos he took with the players. “I hope they understand me.”
Farahanipour considers, however, the restrictions faced by the Iranian delegation at this World Cup to be unfair. “They didn’t have the same opportunities as other teams.”
The feeling also appears among Iranians who avoid talking publicly about politics.
Owner of an establishment in the region, a woman who asked not to be identified was moved when she remembered her adolescence in Iran. According to her, she was arrested at a young age and then left the country.
Despite living in the United States, she avoids interviews for fear of exposing relatives who remain in Iran. During the conversation, she stated that she would like to be able to support the national team, but she does not see how to separate the team from the Iranian government. “I love my country, but not the regime.”
Not all Iranians in Tehrangeles, however, see the team in the same way.
Javad Yeganeh, 57, divides his days between a construction company and a cafe that opened a few months ago in Westwood. For him, the team should not be confused with the Iranian government. “The team is different from the government,” he says.
While following the news about the war, Yeganeh worries mainly about family members who remain in the Asian country. “My whole family is there. I’m sad because a lot of people died.”
Regarding the game, he wants the Iranian team to do well and beat Belgium 3-0. “I was very happy with the first result,” he said in reference to the match against New Zealand, in which the team drew 2-2.
Community divisions also appear in the details.
As the owner of an Iranian grocery store criticized Donald Trump during an interview, a woman walked across the sidewalk wearing a red cap with the words “Make Iran Great Again.”
The adaptation of the Trumpist slogan caught the eye of those passing by and served as a reminder that, in Tehrangeles, differences go far beyond the decision to support the team or not. They also include how the community sees the role of the United States in the future of Iran.
The trader was Mohammed Hafarn, 78. A resident of the United States for more than two decades, he says he will continue to support the Iranian team despite criticism of the regime. “I love my team,” he says. “This team does not belong to the regime. It belongs to all Iranians.”
For Hafarn, the players represent the country and not the government. “Some people believe this team belongs to the regime, but it doesn’t. Deep in their hearts, the players are playing for their country.”
Hafarn also criticizes the restrictions faced by the Iranian delegation during the World Cup and demonstrates skepticism regarding the United States’ role in the war.
According to him, Washington did not act in defense of Iranian democracy and President Trump abandoned his promise to support the country’s people. “We are not happy with the Iranian regime,” he says. “But I support the team and I would like them to win.”
