Iran Fans Turn World Cup Match Into a Political Stage, With Unexpected Mexican Support

Hours before Iran’s opening match against New Zealand, the stands at the stadium were already carrying a political charge. Iranian fans managed to bring in the pre-1979 Lion and Sun symbol, despite FIFA’s effort to ban certain emblems associated with the Iranian opposition from stadiums. The symbol appeared on hats, shirts, small badges and even full flags, turning attendance itself into a political statement.

One fan wrapped in the Lion and Sun flag said, “We are here anyway” and, “We want a free Iran.” He and his friends also shouted for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “finish the job” against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Another Iranian supporter, wearing a Lion and Sun hat, took a more nuanced line. Asked whether the team belonged to the people or the regime, he replied, “This is my team. This is Iran’s team. Unfortunately it operates under the regime, but it is still our team.” He said he was surprised the banned symbol got him into the stadium, adding, “Sometimes you do not notice every detail. This time we were lucky.”

The contrast between those two fans reflected a wider split among Iranians, between those who see every national team appearance as a chance to protest and those who try to separate politics from football. But the evening brought another surprise inside the stadium. Several Mexican fans were cheering for Iran, with one saying he supports everyone because his girlfriend is Iranian and the connection is about “love, unity, freedom and learning about other cultures.”

He said Mexicans and Iranians share values such as family, good food and helping others. Another Mexican supporter laughed when asked about the phrase “Iranian tacos are better,” first joking that Iran is better than Mexico in every way, then correcting herself to say Mexican tacos are still superior. Even so, she said, “I love Iranians. I love Persians,” and preferred “old Iran” over today’s Iran. The scenes made the Iran-New Zealand match about far more than football, and in Los Angeles, the Lion and Sun still found its way into the stadium.