“Even in wartime, people spent time together and tried to enjoy life. What else could we do? Life had to go on,” Mohsen, 43, told NBC News at a cafe broadcasting the match in Tehran.
NBC News agreed not to use Mohsen’s last name or those of those interviewed for this article, fearing they would be arrested or harassed by Iranian security forces.
The cafe was one of dozens showing the match across the city, as was the case last week for Iran’s opener against New Zealand, which they also tied 2-2.
And despite the 4:30 a.m. kickoff, fans were once again rewarded with a combative performance from Team Melli, the Persian term for “national team,” which coach Amir Ghalenoei described as “the most oppressed” due to travel restrictions imposed by U.S. authorities.
A billboard in Tehran shows an AI-generated image of Iranian guard Alireza Beiranvand holding one of the victims of a US strike on a school. Amin Khodadadi / NBC NewsDue to visa uncertainty and the war, Iranian players commute from their tournament base in Mexico, the co-hosting country, for their three group matches in the United States and must enter within 24 hours of a match and leave the same day.
Despite their difficulties in Tehran, the atmosphere in the cafe was lax, with many women disregarding the country’s law requiring women to cover their heads and the shape of their bodies.
Instead of political chants, all the applause was for the national team and goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, who made several excellent saves during the match and was called “man of the match” by Belgian coach Rudi Garcia.
Ghalenoei, the Iranian coach, said the team had less than 16 hours to practice before the match and had to return to Mexico two hours after the match. This reduced recovery time for players, he said.
Football fans watch the match at Viking Cafe in northern Tehran.Amin Khodadadi / NBC NewsHis team nevertheless left a handwritten note in his dressing room calling for “peace, respect and friendship” to “prevail among all nations”.
“From ancient Persia thousands of years ago to today’s civilized Iran, the spirit of Iran remains alive and unwavering,” reads the message released by the Iranian Football Federation.
“We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honor and leave with dignity,” the text adds. “Thank you Los Angeles for your hospitality.”
During the match, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted messages on social media alluding to a US strike against Iranian school the first day of the conflict.
Alongside a photo showing winged girls helping Beiranvand, Araghchi wrote: “From the football field to the negotiating table to the battlefield, every step we take as Iranians is part of a larger struggle: defending the honor and dignity of our dear people. »
Ghalibaf, who heads the country’s negotiating team in Switzerland, also congratulated Beiranvand, captioning it: “This is how we protect our land.”
Signage at Viking Cafe in northern Tehran on Sunday.Amin Khodadadi / NBC NewsNegotiations in Switzerland resulted in “many positive progress”, according to Vice President JD Vanceafter the two sides agreed on a road map towards a final agreement aimed at ending the war within 60 days.
Technical negotiations continued on Monday at the mountaintop resort of Bürgenstock, after a first round of marathon negotiations between senior officials from the two countries.
Back in Iran, hundreds of people filled Tajrish Square, where ceremonies for the third Shiite imam, Husayn ibn Ali, were taking place, while nearby, others celebrated the resilience shown by their football team against a Belgian team filled with stars like Kevin de Bruyne and Leandro Trossard.
But some people, like Parham, have expressed frustration with what he sees as a “politicization” of the sport.
Mohsen, meanwhile, said he wanted Iran to win. “We’re always trying to find reasons to be happy,” he said.
Amin Khodadadi reported from Tehran and Mithil Aggarwal from Hong Kong.