STONY BROOK, N.Y. (AP) — With Iran's national soccer team qualifying for the World Cup, hopes were high among fans like Arad Ershad for attending matches in Los Angeles. However, as the players fail to vocally support protests against government oppression, Ershad's enthusiasm wanes. It feels so bad that I do not want them to succeed. They were like my icons, my legends, he expressed, showcasing the sentiments of the Iranian diaspora. The team, set to kick off against New Zealand on June 15, faces backlash from fans who see them as complicit in the regime's repression. While some plan to cheer while protesting with signs, others abstain from supporting the team entirely due to political concerns. There are also fears that the war with the U.S. and Israel will prevent the team from competing at all, with the government questioning the feasibility of participation.

Despite these pressures, some fans like Masoud Ahmadi are determined to show their supports for the team, as long as it includes a message of protest against the regime. This team is not an Iranian people's team. This is a government team, he asserted, highlighting the ongoing struggle between national pride and political resistance. With conflicting feelings towards the players, many hope for a change in government before they consider supporting the national team on the world stage.