Fans in US cheering for Iran

[alani123]

Wasn't it such a crazy scheme that such a big stadium erupts in cheers when Iran is nearing the goal post and about to score?

The US gov is targeting Iran as we speak and yet the country's people not only don't seem to hate Iran, but on the contrary were very happy to see Iran's football team do well.

And this happened while trump had banned any issuance of visas to Iranian nationals. So even if fans from Iran wanted to travel to the US to watch the match they wouldn't have been allowed. It was an interesting contrast watching this in the world cup. And in spite of the unfair disadvantage given to Iran for not being able to stay overnight where the world cup is organised, they performed well. The cheers surely helped.

[Orpichukwu]

The US gov is targeting Iran as we speak and yet the country's people not only don't seem to hate Iran, but on the contrary were very happy to see Iran's football team do well.

For the love of football, every team has fans everywhere, both home and away, but not as much as the home team will be of advantage, and one thing which I know about this Iran and US war is that not all support the US government over their decision, and the war can't stop them from hating the next country.

I did not watch the match due to my busy schedule for the Father's Day celebrations in my country, but with your story, it also reminds me of how African countries gang up to support Mexico during their match with South Africa instead of supporting one of their own due to the recent attack by the country's people on foreigners.

[Hispo]

I would not be surprised if the federal government of the United States put those people who gave support to Iran in some list and started to track them down in order to get them liable for whatever they can. Trump administration has already proven itself to be quite hard against pro Palestinian protesters and pretty much anyone who stood in the way of Israel and her interests in the middle east.
I would have not dared to cheer in favor of Iran in these circumstances, to be honest.

Also, I would be quite poetic if the final match happened to be the United States versus Iran, but that is very unlikely to happen, considering the strong European and South American teams which are participating.

[uneng]

This is the difference between a free country and a country ruled by a fundamentalist regime.

In USA, you can cheer for Iran national soccer team. Now try doing the same for USA national team in Iran and see what happens...

[Cointxz]

Many people hates Trump in the US for attacking Iran. Probably they are those people that support Iran since this is a sports match. It’s amazing already thatIran still have representative for this sports even though they are facing war against the US.

Nevertheless, US has freedom to express among their citizens unlike Iran that they control or threaten their citizens if they are doing against what the government want.

[Accardo]

Those Cheers comes directly from Iranian Americans, Luckily for the Iran national team, their two world cup games took place in Southern California, the home of the majority of Iranians living in America, in Los Angeles alone where the Sofi Stadium is, they're about 85,000 Iranian Residents, and in South California and surrounding counties, Iranians have a record of about 500,000 residents. These numbers are enough to fill up Iranians in a 70,000 capacity stadium who would roar and cheer up their country men in this wonderful world cup season.

[ArabBTC]

Well this is one good thing i love about sports most especially football, football is one game that helps unite everyone regardless of ethnicity, religion or color, am not surprised by the actions of the Iran fans because it has happened to me once during the Chelsea vs Man city campions league finals when i travelled somewhere that had serious security issues and there was curfew, the military restricted movement but during the match between Chelsea and Man City the same military that was all harsh became very friendly to us and we all celebrated together.

Kudos to the Iran fans, Kudos to the US for creating a conducive environment, indeed this action will send a clear message of peace and unity to both nations, no one benefits from war, in all we all are brothers, let’s always stay bonded in love and always give peace a chance, a win to one should be a win to all.

[stompix]

I would not be surprised if the federal government of the United States put those people who gave support to Iran in some list and started to track them down in order to get them liable for whatever they can.

Prepare to be surprised!
All those Iranian fans you see in the stadium are Iranians and their decscendat that have fled The Pedophile Republic of Iran in the 1980s, they were the ones cheering with the old flag of Iran when the US was bombing Iran, much like every Cuban in Florida hated the Castro Regime! While at it, read about Teherangels
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/us/iranian-americans-los-angeles.html

In USA, you can cheer for Iran national soccer team. Now try doing the same for USA national team in Iran and see what happens...

Details, my friend, don't try to destroy their propaganda!

Probably they are those people that support Iran since this is a sports match.

Yup, try again, insert new coin!   Same link for you:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/us/iranian-americans-los-angeles.html

[MainIbem]

Football is meant to unite and not divide, since the Iranian team's performance was good it was enough for fans to cheer them. Mind you some would do so out of suprise cause people would be expecting that Belgium do better but the reverse was the case. Moreover not everyone is happy with how the present administration waged war with Iran and refused not most of their fans visa in the name of being security cautious so that's the way fans could show support to them and encourage them to play better despite an unfair treatment in the tournament which made them have less supporters to cheer them. I believe there should Palestinians living in diaspora at the USA and those not supporting the Trump administration's war against Iran.

[danherbias07]

Imagine the US team being cheered by Iranians. That will be something.

Well, this just tells that Trump doesn't have all the support from his fellow Americans. They are divided in their beliefs about the war, and I think it just showed in that game. Still, I don't think that is enough to stop the war, but it's a good start.
Every person's take on how they agree or disagree should be heard.

This suddenly became a politics section.

[m2017]

Wasn't it such a crazy scheme that such a big stadium erupts in cheers when Iran is nearing the goal post and about to score?

The stadium always erupts in cheers of a goal in such dangerous moments. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that they're an Iranian team.

The US gov is targeting Iran as we speak and yet the country's people not only don't seem to hate Iran, but on the contrary were very happy to see Iran's football team do well.

Sports \ football should be above politics. That's the strength of football. Everyone is equal in the stadium, no matter what the officials are up to.

And this happened while trump had banned any issuance of visas to Iranian nationals. So even if fans from Iran wanted to travel to the US to watch the match they wouldn't have been allowed. It was an interesting contrast watching this in the world cup. And in spite of the unfair disadvantage given to Iran for not being able to stay overnight where the world cup is organised, they performed well. The cheers surely helped.

The US national team will likely advance from Group D, while Iran still has a chance to advance from Group G, meaning there's a chance these two teams could face off. It would be interesting to see a football match between these two teams in the context of these political events (and how fans, supporters, and the rest of the world would react).

[alani123]

Many people hates Trump in the US for attacking Iran. Probably they are those people that support Iran since this is a sports match. It’s amazing already thatIran still have representative for this sports even though they are facing war against the US.

Nevertheless, US has freedom to express among their citizens unlike Iran that they control or threaten their citizens if they are doing against what the government want.

This is a funny thing because many of Trump's voters were actually voting for him hoping he'll keep the promise of ending war.
Instead he made wars all over worse and even made debt and inflation worse due to his mania. It's hurting his image a lot.

I can imagine a lot of US Americans that have nothing to do with Iran probably went in tv stadium cheering for Iran out of spite and it seems to have worked too. So many people on social media are asking the same question, how can it be that so many people in America were cheering for a team the US is bombing. It turns out the president's decision to go against this nation is hugely unpopular. While trump wanted to use the world cup as a publicity stunt, instead he's facing huge PR issues through incidents like this.

[rachael9385]

When it comes to the game of football it is a game of unity, meaning that every country puts their differences aside and becomes one to ensure peace and order. Even with the ongoing war between both countries it doesn't mean that it should be showed on the pitch. Iran has been going through a lot, cheering for them is the least they can do.

[cryptoaddictchie]

Thats personal on the side of US but you cant blame them as they have an ongoing war and they will likely be strict to Iran fans to come on US for watching the game as they might suspect some spy or worse bomber not really a fan but an Iran Military faking his entry.

Thats only a precaution on their side  but I believe the sports shouldnt be affected by the war issues. People hate war and these people i to sports arent gonna spoil that or even defend that.

[swogerino]

Wasn't it such a crazy scheme that such a big stadium erupts in cheers when Iran is nearing the goal post and about to score?

The US gov is targeting Iran as we speak and yet the country's people not only don't seem to hate Iran, but on the contrary were very happy to see Iran's football team do well.

And this happened while trump had banned any issuance of visas to Iranian nationals. So even if fans from Iran wanted to travel to the US to watch the match they wouldn't have been allowed. It was an interesting contrast watching this in the world cup. And in spite of the unfair disadvantage given to Iran for not being able to stay overnight where the world cup is organised, they performed well. The cheers surely helped.

Football is aside from politics. US government wanted to not even accept Iran in this World Cup but were forced to accept them otherwise it would have been the biggest incident registered in a Word Cup from the host country in the whole history. I am also impressed that Iran was able to hold back Belgium and that they now have the chance of qualifying if they win against Egypt which is very difficult, though I think even a draw can make them pass if Belgium does not win against New Zealand. Of course fans cheer good football and they don't care which team is playing it.

[fruktik]

This is the difference between a free country and a country ruled by a fundamentalist regime.

In USA, you can cheer for Iran national soccer team. Now try doing the same for USA national team in Iran and see what happens...

It's best not to do that. The consequences could be completely unpredictable. Iran has a completely different regime, and it won't tolerate anyone who even slightly supports the US. It has a far too radical political system, one that's intolerant of anything related to America. Therefore, it's best not to express any feelings or emotions if you're a US fan and you're in Iran.

[Marvelockg]

I would not be surprised if the federal government of the United States put those people who gave support to Iran in some list and started to track them down in order to get them liable for whatever they can.

Trump might be considered a bit strict with his policies but there are still things that i think he wouldn't do especially when it is a minimal matter of cheering a team in team in the world cup regardless of the personal difference they have with the Iranian as a nationality. football unites and when we see gestures like this coming out during a world cup game, we should be positive about it because that is what the world cup is all about. if the world cup cant for ones help us take away our difference and through out support for one another, what then is worthy of bringing us together as a globe?

[Africolo]

Wasn't it such a crazy scheme that such a big stadium erupts in cheers when Iran is nearing the goal post and about to score?

The US gov is targeting Iran as we speak and yet the country's people not only don't seem to hate Iran, but on the contrary were very happy to see Iran's football team do well.

And this happened while trump had banned any issuance of visas to Iranian nationals. So even if fans from Iran wanted to travel to the US to watch the match they wouldn't have been allowed. It was an interesting contrast watching this in the world cup. And in spite of the unfair disadvantage given to Iran for not being able to stay overnight where the world cup is organised, they performed well. The cheers surely helped.

I haven't really had time to watch the ongoing world cup games though I have been following the updates and so far so good Iran has done well, and this is clearly a scenario where the Nigerians will always support any teams that's playing against South Africa due to the xenophobic attacks issued on the Nigerians living in South Africa, I know with this cheers the United States will surely invest those set of fans to actually know who they are, because Trump is not taking the security of his country likely and don't want to have any loopholes anywhere.

Football is a game of love which unites warring countries together but in this case I'm not sure the hates between them will stop anytime soon but atleast this world cup should be able to pave a way for peace and reconciliation between these countries. I pray the two countries can find their grounds for peace during this world cup.

[Chinesebaby]

Wasn't it such a crazy scheme that such a big stadium erupts in cheers when Iran is nearing the goal post and about to score?

The US gov is targeting Iran as we speak and yet the country's people not only don't seem to hate Iran, but on the contrary were very happy to see Iran's football team do well.

And this happened while trump had banned any issuance of visas to Iranian nationals. So even if fans from Iran wanted to travel to the US to watch the match they wouldn't have been allowed. It was an interesting contrast watching this in the world cup. And in spite of the unfair disadvantage given to Iran for not being able to stay overnight where the world cup is organised, they performed well. The cheers surely helped.

It seems the opposite is what actually happened there, because since Iran citizens were denied visa into the US for this ongoing FIFA World Cup, it's obvious that other nationalities who love the game the Iran players were displaying got carried away and had to express their love for the team. Because that's one beauty about the game of football. Because it's very possible that even if the United States citizens occupied more than 70% of the people in that stadium during the match, it's also very possible that the other 30% who came from different countries would had supported Iran if they saw the guys playing good football.

However, it was indeed a very lovely game yesterday, because despite the fact that Belgium had the most ball possessions, Iran was still able to fight and defend to the end, which ended goalless draw yesterday.

[SamReomo]

The US gov is targeting Iran as we speak and yet the country's people not only don't seem to hate Iran, but on the contrary were very happy to see Iran's football team do well.

Well, politics and sports are two different things, the ones who cheered for Iran's team were lovers of sports I believe and for them it doesn't matter if Iran scores well or any other country's team. They only enjoy the games and that's why they buy tickets to be part of the match and sit at stadium.

Like others I would also say that those who got happy for Iran most probably were Iranian people who migrated to USA, but even if they weren't it would still make no difference because sports and politics are different and those who love sports don't really have any problem with any country.