Source: Politics<\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES \u2014 Moments after Iran and Belgium battled to a scoreless draw at SoFi Stadium, the Belgian players beat a hasty retreat to the locker room.<\/p>\n
Not the Iranian World Cup team.<\/p>\n
The players on Team Melli lingered on the field, doing a slow lap to cheers from supporters who\u2019d dominated stands with chants of \u201cIran!\u201d The Iranian players held their hands aloft and clapped for the spectators, some of whom waved Iran\u2019s pre-revolution lion and sun flag, which is seen as a symbol of resistance against the Islamic Republic and is banned by FIFA. <\/p>\n
One Iranian American fan, who gave his name as Majid, said he came from Seattle for the game. \u201cThe team, even though there is controversy \u2026 the team is here, they want to win \u2026 and we support them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The scene made for a striking juxtaposition: Iranian players representing the Islamic Republic applauding a crowd in which some fans waved a flag symbolic of opposition to the very theocracy whose colors they wore.<\/p>\n
Iran plays its final group stage match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26 \u2014 during the city\u2019s monthlong LGBTQ+ Pride celebration, drawing formal complaints<\/a> from both Middle Eastern countries. <\/p>\n