With Iran set for World Cup match at SoFi, L.A. Iranians see glimmers of unity
Key takeaways
- Iran’s World Cup team arrived in Tijuana last week bearing gold lapel pins on their jackets honoring the 168 victims, most of them schoolgirls, killed in a Feb. 28 U.S.
- The World Cup kicked off last week as that war in the Middle East continues, with Iran set to open play against New Zealand on Monday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
- While Iran will play in the U.S., its players won’t be allowed to stay here.
Shaheen Ferdowsi, owner of Meymuni Cafe in Westwood, which is hosting a World Cup watch party Monday, hopes the match will inspire unity among L.A. Iranians amid the ongoing war with the U.S. in their homeland. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) By Suhauna Hussain and Kevin Baxter June 14, 2026 3 AM PT 9 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Iran’s World Cup team arrived in Tijuana last week bearing gold lapel pins on their jackets honoring the 168 victims, most of them schoolgirls, killed in a Feb. 28 U.S. missile strike on an elementary school in southern Iran at the outset of the war.
The World Cup kicked off last week as that war in the Middle East continues, with Iran set to open play against New Zealand on Monday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. It’s significant that the game will take place in the Los Angeles area, home to the largest Iranian population outside Iran.