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In Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, players from Arya Football Club — many part of the city’s large Iranian diaspora — gather each week to play and support Iran’s national team, known as Team Melli. With Group G World Cup matches set to be played at SoFi Stadium, excitement is building in one of the world’s largest Iranian communities outside Iran. But as tensions and strikes involving Israel and the United States impact Iran, fans say they feel torn between politics and their love of football. Some hope that by the time the tournament begins, they can celebrate in peace.
