During historic protests, Iranians in Texas disagreed over who to support in USA-Iran World Cup match

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

67% : The national team and their presence in the World Cup is always a national event for Iran.
66% :"I've heard a lot of conversations around what it means to root for Iran right now versus not (supporting Iran), so it's just disappointing that we can't just watch the game and enjoy it," Jameson said.
64% : Siamdoust said Iran's 1998 win "really allowed for the kinds of celebrations and expressions of nationhood and love of Iran in the streets, in the public spaces of the Islamic Republic in a way that the streets hadn't really been claimed for nearly a couple of decades since the revolution."
56% : He had been rooting for Iran in the game, but also said he's "happy for America."
53% : Abdi Rezaei said he was thinking of his family back home in Iran during the match, while watching with a group of 15 or so Houston-area Iranians at the Ranosh Cafe in West Houston.
53% : Meanwhile, as Iran leaves the World Cup stage, Iranians in Houston said they continue to hope for change in their country.
46% : My mom is over there, she's like, 'I know everyone is watching.'"He recently visited Iran and witnessed the historic protest movement there firsthand.
46% : The UT professor said she was rooting for Iran in 2022 match.
37% : He imagined what a win for Iran would mean for people there, where Iranian fans would suddenly take to the streets and celebrate the win, in defiance of the the authoritarian regime.
37% : Even though the Iranian players refused to sing their national anthem before their match against England, in solidarity with ongoing women's protests in Iran, Zangeneh said the players represent the oppressive Iranian government.

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