On the tickets and in the listings, this match was billed as Iran v New Zealand.

But in the stands and chanting outside the stadium, it was not the Kiwis who were Iran’s most vocal opponents – it was their own dissidents.

Time and again, Iranian team officials have said they want football to unite people.

The mood here for the World Cup group stage game was anything but united.

Outside the Los Angeles Stadium, the atmosphere was politically charged.

Hundreds of Iranian flags were flying. The most visible were the pre-revolutionary flags bearing the Lion and Sun emblem.

For many Iranian-Americans, the flag has become a symbol of opposition to the regime in Tehran. Fifa has banned it inside stadiums as a political symbol.

But it was flying inside nonetheless and emblazoned on t-shirts.

A few hundred protesters gathered outside, angry at Fifa’s decision and at what they see as a national team that represents the Islamic Republic rather than the Iranian people.

“Mullahs’ team is not my team,” one group chanted. “Regime change in Iran,” sang another.

Then they broke into song – Iran’s pre-revolutionary national anthem.

A young man, when asked to translate, smiles.

Watch: Iranian-Americans protest against Iran’s team outside opening round World Cup game

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Outside, chants against the regime and the team. Inside, roars of support for the players. Cheers when Iran scored totwice come from behind to draw 2-2with New Zealand.

There were thousands of Iranian flags in the stands. From a distance they looked identical. Up close, they told a different story.

Some carried the official flag of the Islamic Republic. Others displayed the Lion and Sun. All were dressed in Iran’s colours.

This is what the footballers were up against: Iran versus Iran.

“It’s complicated,” says Samaneh, an Iranian-American who has lived in the United States for a decade.

“I’m here to support Iran, not the regime. I miss my country.”

She said she cried when Iran’s national anthem played.

“My dad is here, but my mum is stuck in Iran because of paperwork and President Trump’s travel restrictions. I’m worried about her all the time. I’m also scared to go back and visit.”

When New Zealand took the lead, some anti-regime spectators celebrated, waving Lion and Sun flags.

Outside the stadium, the politics quickly came back into focus.

Fonte: BBC EUA/Canadá