WorldEager soccer fans are trickling into the area in Inglewood, Calif., ahead of what's expected to be an exciting and dramatic match.It's Team Iran's first match on U.S. soil against backdrop of warKarina Zapata · CBC News · Posted: Jun 15, 2026 6:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: 20 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Across the street from SoFi Stadium, protestors wave the pre-revolutionary Iran flag while chanting in Farsi. For many, it's difficult to separate Team Melli from the state. (Karina Zapata/CBC)Anticipation is building outside Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles, where Iran is set to open its World Cup against New Zealand tonight.Eager soccer fans are trickling into the area in Inglewood, Calif., ahead of what's expected to be an exciting and dramatic match.Meanwhile, across the street from the stadium, protestors have begun making their way to the protest zone, a closed-off street where hundreds — if not more — will gather before and during the match.This isn't an ordinary match. It's the first time Team Iran will play on U.S. soil against the backdrop of the ongoing war. In fact, this is the first time in World Cup history that a host country has been actively at war with a qualifying nation.It's also happening in a city with a population of more than 230,000 Iranians, according to the Pew Research Center — considered the highest concentration in the world outside Iran.War, sports collide as Iran's World Cup kicks off in Los AngelesWearing a t-shirt with a lion and the sun — the symbol shown on the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag that now represents resistance against the Islamic regime — Fattaneh Hakimi is helping organize the protest.Fattaneh Hakimi fled Iran as a single mother in 2001, first finding refuge in Las Vegas before making Los Angeles her home. (Karina Zapata/CBC)For Hakimi and others protesting, it's difficult to separate the Iranian national team from the state. She said their message is simple."We want to show the world what we want: we want freedom for Iran. We don't want the Islamic Republic of Iran to stay in Iran anymore," said Hakimi, who arrived in the U.S. with her son as refugees from Iran in 2001.She bought last-minute tickets to the match tonight in hopes that she can wear her T-shirt inside, despite FIFA's plans to continue its ban on the flag and related apparel in World Cup stadiums, claiming the symbolism violates its code of conduct."This is what we want to show the world. This is a Persian Iranian flag."Conflicted feelings amid the warAli Razian flew in from Toronto last night to watch the match with his sister and niece, who came in from San Diego. He has lived in Canada for 25 years, and couldn't resist the trip to Los Angeles to attend the match.He's here cheering on Team Melli — "national team" in Farsi — but there's no trace of it. He isn't wearing a jersey, or even the team colours."I didn't bring anything because I'm afraid that I can't bring it inside," he said.Ali Razian travelled from Toronto to watch the match with his niece and sister, who live in San Diego. He's cheering on Team Melli, but says he can't quite separate the sport from the war back home. (Karina Zapata/CBC News)Other than answering more questions than expected at customs, Razian said he didn't have trouble crossing the border into the U.S. But that wasn't the case for everyone. Some of his friends who are in the military were turned away at the border and couldn't make the match, he said.It's part of why he has mixed feelings about watching his country take the world stage tonight. His parents, brothers and sister also still live in Iran, and he said the cost of living there has surged."We hope that Iran wins the game, but we are worried about the people in Iran."As he enters the stadium today, Razian said he will be thinking about his family, and hoping the U.S. and Iran soon sign their deal to end the war.The match kicks off at 6 p.m. local time.ABOUT THE AUTHORKarina Zapata is a reporter with CBC Calgary. She first joined the CBC as a Joan Donaldson Scholar, working with newsrooms in Ontario and the Northwest Territories. You can reach her at karina.zapata@cbc.ca.