The field divided: Team Melli and transnational Iranian politics

Abstract

This study looks at how diasporic opponents of the Islamic Republic contested Team Melli’s status as a symbol of national unity during the 2022 World Cup, turning support for and opposition to the national team into an arena of contentious politics and activism. Using digital ethnography and qualitative content analysis, it traces the narrative strategies and visual representations through which activists recast Team Melli as divisive rather than unifying, and as disconnected from the struggles and aspirations of Iranians seeking political change. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how digital activism enables diaspora communities to engage in transnational political movements and redefine national symbols, demonstrating social media’s power to shape domestic politics and renegotiate national identity amid sociopolitical upheaval.