For months, Iran's footballers have been asked to carry a burden few World Cup teams have ever faced.
When Team Melli arrived in Los Angeles late on Sunday, less than 24 hours before their opening match against New Zealand, they did so under heavy security, amid protests from anti-government demonstrators and only hours after Washington and Tehran announced a surprise peace agreement aimed at ending months of conflict.
The timing could hardly have been more symbolic.
The team's arrival coincided with a new deal between the United States and Iran, who have been at war since late February. While details of the agreement have yet to be published, it is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address several of the issues that have fuelled tensions between the two countries.
Yet even as diplomats spoke of de-escalation, the Iranian national team found itself at the centre of another battle, one over identity, representation and politics.
As the team's bus arrived at LA Galaxy's training ground on Sunday, it was met by a group of pro-monarchy demonstrators waving Lion and Sun flags associated with opposition movements, alongside US and Israeli flags.
The protesters carried signs reading: "The terrorist Islamic Republic's football team does not represent the people of Iran" and chanted: "Down with terrorists, IRGC terrorists."
The demonstrations reflected deep divisions within the Iranian diaspora, particularly in California, home to one of the world's largest Iranian communities outside Iran. Many left the country after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, while opposition activism has intensified during the months-long war between Washington and Tehran.
The protests are just one challenge facing a team whose participation in the World Cup has been clouded by uncertainty from the start.
Team Melli's players and staff have faced visa restrictions, changing entry requirements and conflicting messages from US officials over whether they would be welcome in the country.
At one point, the team was informed it would only be allowed to enter and leave the United States on matchdays. That policy was revised last week, allowing the squad to arrive one day before fixtures.
The restrictions followed months of tensions between FIFA, Washington and Tehran. Iran's training base was ultimately established in Tijuana, just across the border in Mexico, after US authorities indicated they did not wish to host the team in California despite all three of Iran's group-stage matches taking place on US soil.
Concerns have also surrounded the team's safety. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump warned that security for the Iranian delegation "could not be guaranteed", prompting criticism from Tehran and raising questions about whether politics would overshadow football.
For Salma Mashhour, a sports content creator who has followed the issue closely, the greater challenge may not be physical security but the atmosphere surrounding the team.
"I think if anything were to happen to a member of the squad or staff, it would be a disaster for everyone. So given the scale of security and scrutiny surrounding the World Cup and specifically around Iran, I would be surprised if there were any major incidents involving the team itself," she told The New Arab. Los Angeles authorities have already confirmed additional security measures, including an increased police presence around stadiums and fan zones.
But while violence appears unlikely, Mashhour believes Iran's matches will be among the tournament's most politically charged.
Spectators should expect "a very politically charged atmosphere" as well as protests and political slogans when Iran plays, she said, pointing to both the hostile reception in Los Angeles and months of opposition campaigning against the team's participation.
The crowd, she added, is unlikely to resemble the unified support usually associated with Team Melli. Instead, it is expected to be "mixed", rather than a "purely supportive Iranian atmosphere", while the political narrative surrounding the team "will overshadow" events on the pitch.
At the same time, Mashhour noted that many Iranians continue to distinguish between the players and the state they represent.
"But I also think that there are many Iranians who separate the players from the government and continue to support Team Melli. And I think there has been a lot of criticism towards the protestors," she added.
The players themselves have tried to steer clear of politics.
Speaking ahead of Monday's opener, veteran striker Mehdi Taremi stressed that the team represents all Iranians.
"We are here for all Iranians around the world," he said.
"Differences and disagreements exist in every country. This is normal everywhere. But as footballers, we are here to bring everyone together. We do everything we can to make Iranians happy, and that is our only goal."
Taremi also pushed back against questions about security concerns during an interview with ESPN , arguing that the team should be treated as athletes rather than political actors.
The striker said Donald Trump and the United States should view them as "sportspeople, and not politicians", while questioning whether the US itself was truly "safe" for the team.
For Iran's players, the pressure extends well beyond football.
War, political controversy, restrictions on travel and a deeply divided diaspora have all become part of the backdrop to their World Cup campaign.
Taremi has acknowledged that those tensions have affected preparations ahead of the tournament.
Whether those pressures ultimately unite the squad or undermine its performances remains to be seen. Iran , ranked 20th in the world, begins its campaign against 87th-ranked New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Monday evening.
On paper, Team Melli enter the match as clear favourites, but after months spent navigating war, diplomacy and political controversy, the most difficult challenge facing Iran may not be the opponent standing across from them on the pitch.