TIJUANA.- Reza Mansoor and Mostafa Pourmand they saw eleven World Cups between the two. But the real dream for these super fans of the Iranian team, who stay in the same hotel as their team, is that “Team Melli” faces USA in the grass World Cup 2026.
The duel would take on another connotation given that both countries are at war.
To achieve this, the Iranian team has to achieve a milestone that has always eluded them: overcome the group stage in which they will face New Zealand, Egypt and Belgium.
Mansoor and Pourmand see it possible this time.
“Iran has one of the easiest groups it has ever had in a World Cup,” Mansoor told AFP. “We have a good chance of qualifying, better than ever.”
These Iranian-Americans, who have settled 50 years ago in San Diego, Californiawho bought tickets until the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, which begins on Thursday in Mexico City.
“I think everyone would love that and that party could really promote peace. It could change a lot of things,” Mansour said, wearing the Iranian jacket.
“Memorable”
At 64 years old, Mansour has seen in person almost all of the participations of Iran in the World Cup, except for Argentina 1978.
He gets emotional when remembering the first victory in a World Cup match, in France 1998precisely against USAwhom they defeated 2-1.
“I still can’t believe it (…) It was an incredible victory.”
The FIFA He baptized it as the party of “fraternity”, outlining a rapprochement between the two countries, enemies since the beginning. Islamic Revolution of 1979.
At the meeting, both squads exchanged flowers and posed together in a group photo before the game.
“It became something memorable,” Mansoor said. “It’s one of the best team photos of a World Cup“.
The nations met again on the grass in a friendly in 2000 in Los Angeles, which concentrates the largest Iranian community abroad, nicknamed “Tehrangeles”.
“Those were the good times,” he smiled. Mostafa Pourmand remembering the 1-1 draw. “The entire stadium was cheering for both teams.”
But the 70-year-old aerospace engineer fears that this union that favored the love of football will not be present this year.
“This World Cup is so different,” he said.
The participation in the World Cup of “Team Melli”, in the midst of the war unleashed by the attacks of Israel and USA against Iran on February 28, was in doubt until the last moment.
“The worst World Cup”
His arrival faced obstacles and itinerary changes.
Rather Tucson (Arizona), in the western United States, where they were scheduled to stay, the players and technical team landed in Tijuana, Mexico.
The United States, where they will play the group stage, denied visas to several members of the coaching staff.
For Mansoor, this “is Iran’s worst World Cup.”
Friends and fans are aware that not everyone in the Iranian diaspora supports their team, probably seen by some as an instrument of propaganda for the Islamic Republic.
In Qatar 2022they heard the boos of some of the fans in a match that was held months after the bloody repression of the demonstrations after the death of the young woman Mahsa Aminiwho was arrested for allegedly not wearing the veil correctly.
The 1-0 defeat against the United States in that World Cup was celebrated in some streets of Iran.
This could be repeated in Los Angeles, where Iranians in exile protested in January against repression in their country, which left thousands dead.
Pourmand believes there will be “a lot of opposition” in Los Angeles during the games.
But the passionate fan says he is in solidarity with the Iranian people and their team, and wants football to leave politics aside.
“True fans… just want to focus on the game,” he said. “We’ll deal with politics later.”
