Iranian fans remain focused on the World Cup amid tensions with the US.
Despite continued tensions between Iran and the US, many Iranian fans still place their faith in their national team at the 2026 World Cup. For them, football could become a rare bridge between their differing political views and perspectives.
Iranian football fans Reza Mansoor and Mostafa Pourmand have watched 11 World Cups together to support their national team. For them, the 2026 tournament still holds special significance, despite recent tensions between Tehran and Washington.
What both sides are most looking forward to is a confrontation between Iran and the US on the football field.
For that to become a reality, Iran must first get through the group stage – an achievement the West Asian team has never accomplished in its World Cup history.
Speaking to AFP, Mansoor said this was one of the best opportunities the Iranian national team had ever had.
Iran is in the same group as New Zealand, Egypt, and Belgium. In his assessment, this is a more favorable group compared to many previous World Cups.
"Iran's chances of advancing this time are very high, perhaps the best opportunity ever," he said.
Iranian fans are hoping to make history.
The optimism of Iranian fans extends beyond mere predictions.
Mr. Mansoor and Mr. Pourmand, who currently live in California, bought tickets for several knockout matches believing that Iran could reach this stage for the first time.
Mansoor even moved to Tijuana, Mexico, to be closer to where the Iranian team was staying during the tournament preparations.
The 2026 World Cup will also be the sixth World Cup in which he has personally watched the national team compete.
For many Iranian fans, the most memorable moment remains their 2-1 victory over the USA at the 1998 World Cup in France.
That was Iran's first victory at a World Cup.
The match not only held sporting significance but was also seen as a symbol of efforts to bridge the gap between the two countries, which had been strained since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Before the match started, players from both teams exchanged flowers and took commemorative photos together. FIFA then described it as a match of "friendship".
According to Mansoor, this remains one of the most beautiful images in World Cup history.
The 1998 victory is also considered by many Iranian fans to be one of the most memorable moments in the country's soccer history. Two years later, Iran and the United States met again in a friendly match in Los Angeles, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Mostafa Pourmand recalled that the spectators in the stadium were cheering for both teams, creating an atmosphere different from the political controversies outside the pitch.
The 2026 World Cup is taking place amidst many challenges.
Nearly three decades after their historic clash in France, the possibility of Iran and the United States meeting again at the World Cup is once again attracting the attention of fans.
However, the current context is considered far more complex than it was in the past.
According to AFP, recent geopolitical tensions have created considerable difficulties for the Iranian national team's preparations.
Although the players were granted visas to compete in the US, where Iran's group stage matches were taking place, some members of the coaching staff and support personnel were reportedly not approved for entry.
This uncertainty led the Iranian team to decide to move their training location from Arizona, USA, to Tijuana, Mexico.
For Mansoor, this was the most difficult World Cup he had witnessed since he started following the national team.
Despite the logistical obstacles, he still hopes that football can serve as a bridge between the people of the two countries.
According to him, a match between Iran and the United States at the World Cup would attract immense fan interest and could have positive impacts beyond the realm of sports.
Divisions within the Iranian diaspora.
In addition to facing challenges during the preparation process, the Iranian national team also encountered prolonged debates within the Iranian diaspora.
According to AFP, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a section of fans protested against the national team because they believed the team represented the Iranian government.
These reactions occurred against the backdrop of large-scale protests in Iranian society following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died after being arrested by morality police for allegedly violating dress codes for women.
This event has exacerbated divisions within the Iranian community both at home and abroad.
According to AFP, Iran's 0-1 defeat to the USA at the 2022 World Cup was even celebrated by some people.
Differences in viewpoints are expected to continue to emerge in Iran's games in Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian-American community in the United States.
However, Pourmand believes that once the ball starts rolling, most fans will put their disagreements aside.
"Many people, like me and my friend, just want to focus on football. Politics can wait," he told AFP.
Despite the ongoing controversies, many Iranian fans believe the World Cup is a rare opportunity for everyone to unite towards a common goal. For them, the results on the pitch are more important than disagreements outside the stadium.
If the Iranian team can advance beyond the group stage for the first time, the dream of a new confrontation with the US team could very well become a reality. And in the eyes of fans like Mansoor and Pourmand, it would not just be a simple football match, but also a symbol of hope for overcoming the barriers that separate people.
