At the Meymuni Cafe, located in the West Los Angeles area that includes many of the city's Iranian diaspora, cheers erupted 35 minutes into Iran's 2026 World Cup match against New Zealand on Monday evening.
Iran scored their first goal and amid the jubilation, Parvin, 76, who declined to give his last name, wiped tears from his cheeks. He watched her closely from the bench at the very front of the room, occasionally yelling and waving at her sister as she pointed to the large new storefront apartment that was visible above.
He said his faded white T-shirt was more than 50 years old, bought when he attended the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran, one of the last times Iran was able to host an international soccer tournament.
“I was young at the time and I used to meet boys and drink,” said Parvin. “This game is very important. That is my country, my country. I want the children of my country to be happy.”
His sister, in contrast, supports New Zealand, saying she feels the Iranian team and its players “belong to the government.”
The much-charged game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood against the backdrop of the months-long war with Iran launched by the US and Israel in February drew many of LA's Iranian residents to the stadium and to protests outside. Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian population outside of Iran.
Dozens were settled in chairs in the dining area, which had just been arranged in rows for a viewing party. They mixed up the shop's signature lavashak smoothie — a tart concoction that includes peaches, assorted berries and pomegranate molasses — and mixed slow-cooked lamb atop nachos with melty Armenian string cheese.
Meymuni Cafe's owner and staff say they want to provide a place where Iranians in LA can gather, and they want to keep it politically neutral. Some in the diaspora are afraid of being openly associated with one side or the other negative factions through US military action.
But tensions were inevitable, with some Iranians in LA protesting at SoFi Stadium or avoiding the game altogether. Some see this team as being able to exchange with the government they are fleeing from. Others see the team and its success on the world stage as representing the resilience of the Iranian people.
In a packed stadium, the energy was electric, fans from all political stripes cheering for Team Melli. Some arguments and other things broke out on social media and off the field, according to pictures posted on social media. A group of fans in the stadium booed and turned their backs during the national anthem, waving US and Israeli flags, as well as Iran's pre-1979 revolutionary flag emblazoned with a lion and a rising sun despite a FIFA ban. Some Palestinian flags were flying in the crowd.
In the shop, some have draped a flag over their shoulders or sported pins, hats or shirts with the lion and sun symbol that echoes the campaign to return to the monarchy and install Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince and son of the late shah, as Iran's leader.
A number of people at the cafe's watch party erupted in cheers when New Zealand scored their first goal. When Iran scores a goal, an employee jumps and claps behind the counter leading a chant in Farsi of “Long live the Shah.”
Laila Emamjoneh, 24, who was sitting next to her sister and brother-in-law, was shocked when a row broke out in New Zealand between a group of Iranians. He is half-Iranian and half-Mexican, and said he had never followed any teams but wanted to be with his countrymen in the game.
“Obviously it's stressful with everything that's going on, but I still wanted to be around Persian people,” Emamjoneh said.
Her father often expresses his sorrow for the plight of Iranians back home, she said.
The restaurant is usually closed on Mondays, but owner Shaheen Ferdowsi decided to open it for the game, as other Iranian-owned businesses rejected the idea.
He left the viewing party in the hands of his staff, as his mother managed to snag tickets to the actual family game. Ferdowsi said he was happy to be surrounded by thousands of people working for the Iranian team.
“Anywhere there is a large Iranian population there will be chaos,” he said.
After the game, he said he and his family were “happy all night.”
Sarah Irani, 48, who wore tricolor ribbons of green, red and white in her hair, said the restaurant offers a unique atmosphere that is different from other old businesses in Westwood, nicknamed Tehrangeles.
“There's a small, welcoming vibe and it feels very inclusive and a place to share joy and not isolate or alienate anyone,” Irani said.
At the end of the match when Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand, Parvin shook his head in frustration.
He said the team has been greatly delayed by the number of obstacles they have faced, having to move their camp from Arizona to Tijuana, struggling to find full staff in the US during visa checks and including President Trump's suggestion that the team will not be safe if they choose to play.
He said that the players may feel that they cannot fight hard, they feel like most of those who come to the US do, that they must behave well.
“They had to try hard. “It's not right.”
