26 Iranians will represent the Iranian people at the FIFA World Cup. They will do so with most having lived through the apex of the Women, Life Freedom movement, an increase in international sanctions that targeted not only the Islamic regime but ordinary Iranians, the collapse of the Iranian economy, an uprising that was violently put down by the regime in recent months, two wars of aggression by nuclear armed powers and now a months long internet blackout.
The players of Team Melli come and go, but historically this has been the people's team. Through the gesture versus USMNT in 1998, through solidarity during the Green Movement, through the refusal to sing the regime's anthem four years ago, and many other times, Team Melli has reflected the will of ordinary Iranians. With few exceptions, I have no reason to believe these young men support what the current government (or the western world) has put ordinary Iranians through; in fact, I am inclined to believe that most of them have suffered through the same trauma of this generation of Iran-based Iranians (something that likely many posters here cannot relate to).
If these young men can help bridge a gap between the world and ordinary Iranians, if they can bring those back home some joy, and if they can do it with dignity, then I am all for it. I hope they win all three games and represent the best of Iran and Iranians worldwide at the World Cup. And perhaps their victories in this tournament can be one small step towards turning heads to peace, reform and prosperity.
All for Team Melli!
The players of Team Melli come and go, but historically this has been the people's team. Through the gesture versus USMNT in 1998, through solidarity during the Green Movement, through the refusal to sing the regime's anthem four years ago, and many other times, Team Melli has reflected the will of ordinary Iranians. With few exceptions, I have no reason to believe these young men support what the current government (or the western world) has put ordinary Iranians through; in fact, I am inclined to believe that most of them have suffered through the same trauma of this generation of Iran-based Iranians (something that likely many posters here cannot relate to).
If these young men can help bridge a gap between the world and ordinary Iranians, if they can bring those back home some joy, and if they can do it with dignity, then I am all for it. I hope they win all three games and represent the best of Iran and Iranians worldwide at the World Cup. And perhaps their victories in this tournament can be one small step towards turning heads to peace, reform and prosperity.
All for Team Melli!