World Cup 2026: Iran Team Divides LA's Persian Community

Predictions that the FIFA World Cup 2026 games will attract more than $1 billion in spending at Southern California hotels, restaurants and tourist hotspots this summer are beginning to look shaky. A major hotel trade group is tamping down a previously upbeat forecast, saying FIFA itself has canceled thousands of downtown Los Angeles rooms.

Geopolitical events, including the U.S. war with Iran, have also dampened expectations.

In Westwood, the tight-knit Persian community has lowered its expectations regarding visitors flooding their stores. Mohammad Ghafari, owner of Shater Abbass Bakery & Market, expressed mixed feelings about the World Cup and his homeland's team.

"The soccer team belongs to the Islamic regime, and it does not represent Iranians," said Ghafari, who is torn between loyalty to his hometown of Mashhad and his disdain for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Others are eager for a win.

"I don't want to get political," said George Chammaa, owner of Sunnin Lebanese Cafe. "I'd love to see Iran win.

It'd be good for the area." Travel through major airports is seeing a dip in flights, partly due to airlines cutting costs amid higher fuel costs. The tournament features 104 matches over 39 days from June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with 11 of 16 locations in the U.S.

In Persian Square, flags from before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 are visible in kabob restaurants, food markets, and rug shops. Many of the Iranian diaspora are divided: some ready to celebrate their homeland roots, others not wanting to be associated with the regime.

The Iranian team will play New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, temporarily renamed Los Angeles Stadium for FIFA branding rules. Many Persians plan to watch games at home due to safety concerns.

Some shop owners mentioned a possible parade if Iran advances, while others consider protests outside the arena. Iran's World Cup squad departed Saturday for Tijuana, waiting out delays for U.S.

visas, and will bus to Inglewood for games before returning to Mexico. "People here are sympathetic for the Iranian team, but they're playing for the Iranian regime," Ghafari said.

He added that his store is empty due to inflation and the war. Shahrzad Tahouri, owner of a travel agency, said her tourism business has struggled since the Iran war began in February but has recently seen a spike due to the World Cup.

Charter bus rentals have risen to as much as $2,000 per day. Los Angeles County is home to 86,430 people of Persian descent, with another 39,700 in Orange County, according to the UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association reports disappointing bookings amid cancellations of hotel rooms in downtown L.A. "International visitors are central to the World Cup's economic promise, yet they are not materializing at the levels initially forecast," a spokeswoman said.

The group cited airfare costs, uncertainty around ticketing, visa barriers, high labor costs, and distance from venues as constraints. FIFA's cancellation of thousands of downtown Los Angeles rooms reflects these pressures.