2 hours ago Outside, chants against the authorities and the team. Inside, roars of enactment for the players. Cheers erstwhile Iran scored to twice travel from down to gully 2-2 with New Zealand.
There were thousands of Iranian flags successful the stands. From a region they looked identical. Up close, they told a antithetic story.
Some carried the authoritative emblem of the Islamic Republic. Others displayed the Lion and Sun. All were dressed successful Iran's colours.
This is what the footballers were up against: Iran versus Iran.
"It's complicated," says Samaneh, an Iranian-American who has lived successful the United States for a decade.
"I'm present to enactment Iran, not the regime. I miss my country."
She said she cried erstwhile Iran's nationalist anthem played.
"My dada is here, but my mum is stuck successful Iran due to the fact that of paperwork and President Trump's question restrictions. I'm disquieted astir her each the time. I'm besides frightened to spell backmost and visit."
The contradictions were disposable passim the match.
When New Zealand took the lead, immoderate anti-regime spectators celebrated, waving Lion and Sun flags.
Outside the stadium, the authorities rapidly came backmost into focus.
"We don't privation a deal," says Nini, referring to the latest agreement betwixt Washington and Tehran to extremity the warfare betwixt the US and Iran.
"The radical of Iran merit authorities change. People were slaughtered connected the streets of Tehran."
"We can't normalise what happened successful January done a sporting event," says Farimah, who is wearing a T-shirt bearing the Lion and Sun emblem.
"This squad doesn't correspond the radical of Iran."
Nearby, Kourosh stands with a makeshift noose astir his neck.
"It's a awesome to halt the execution of brave and guiltless radical successful Iran," helium says.
Like galore here, helium says the players connected the transportation correspond the regime, not the people.
The players cull that characterisation.
Before the match, striker Mehdi Taremi said the squad plays for each Iranians, astatine location and abroad, and does not get progressive successful politics.
Some supporters heading into the stadium agreed.
Despite the tensions betwixt his adopted and autochthonal countries, Iranian-American Mostafa believes shot should unite people.
"Soccer is astir friendship, taste connections and putting authorities aside," helium adds connected his mode into the stadium.
English (US)·