TEHRAN — Hundreds of football fans gathered beneath the towering bookshelves of Tehran Book Garden on Sunday night to watch Iran take on Belgium in the World Cup.

Unlike many national teams whose supporters rally unquestioningly behind them however, Team Melli arrived at kickoff carrying the weight of deep divisions at home.

Inside the sprawling cultural complex, families, students, pensioners and young couples filled rows of seats facing giant screens broadcasting the match from the United States.

Some wore Iranian flags around their shoulders while a number of kids had the colours of the flag painted on their faces.

As the players emerged from the tunnel, applause rippled through the hall but not everyone joined in.

“Because I was playing football from a very young age myself and I love football, I love all the matches and watch them all,” Farhad Cheshmi, 29, told AFP at the Tehran Book Garden, noting that he didn’t care much about this particular game.

The mixed feelings reflect broader debates that have surrounded Iran’s national side in recent years.

Some critics view the team as too closely associated with state institutions and remain angry over political developments at home.

Others argue that poor management has weakened Iranian football, pointing to the appointment of officials with political or military backgrounds to senior sporting positions.

Many fans have also questioned technical decisions, including the absence of star striker Sardar Azmoun, one of the country’s most recognisable footballers.