Iranians divided on war unite to watch the World Cup

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

At Meymuni Cafe, nestled in the West Los Angeles corridor anchoring the city’s vast Iranian diaspora, cheers broke out about 35 minutes into Iran’s 2026 World Cup game against New Zealand on Monday evening.Iran had scored its first goal and amid whoops of joy, Parvin, 76, who declined to provide her last name, wiped tears from her cheeks.

She watched intently perched on a bench at the very front of the room, at times shrieking and nudging her sister as she pointed at the cafe’s new large flat-screen that loomed overhead.She said her faded white T-shirt was more than 50 years old, purchased when she attended the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran, which was one of the last times Iran was able to host an international soccer tournament.“I was young then and would just meet boys and drink,” Parvin said.

“This game is more important.That’s my country, it’s my motherland.

I want the children of my country to be happy.”Her own sister, by contrast, supported New Zealand, because she said she feels Iran’s team and its players “belong to the government.” The highly charged game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood set against the backdrop of a months-long war with Iran launched by the U.S.and Israel in February drew strong attendance of L.A.

Iranians within the stadium as well as at protests outside.Los Angeles is home to the largest population Iranians outside of Iran.Narbé Mansourian — a social studies teacher — had no qualms about separating the players from the politics in the country with the complicated geopolitical — and personal — history.Dozens had settled into seats at the cafe, newly arranged in rows for the watch party.

They slurped the cafe’s signature lavashak smoothie — a tart mixture including peaches, various berries and pomegranate molasses — and munched on slow-cooked lamb over nachos with melty Armenian string cheese.Meymuni Cafe’s owner and...