re: Some US Soccer officials may be fired soon

Just an anecdote.

I've been getting my haircut at the same barbershop for about 10 years. The owners are two Iranian-Americans. First generation - both born in Iran. Fantastic haircuts. Both capitalists and pro-democracy to their core. Kind of talk like true libertarians if anything.

They love soccer so of course we have been talking about the World Cup coming up and the US, Iran match once groups were announced. They love their soccer team but you can tell both are torn about what "national pride" means for them. They think the Iranian government and laws are bad. They want change. They want democracy and freedom of religion, etc for their country. Yet they still love to support the Iran soccer team because they love soccer and it is their country of birth. Both will cheer for Iran. Both will then cheer for the US if the US advances over Iran because it is the country where they live and they like it here.

My guess is that this is how most Iranians feel. Probably even most of the players and coaches. Not the cheering for the US part, but being proud of their team and wanting to represent their country (the people of their country) while at the same time not supporting many of the laws and action of their government.