American Iranians protest outside Iran’s FIFA in LA

Several hundred Iranian Americans protest outside Iran's first World Cup, calling for change in Tehran.

This while thousands of fans pour into the stadium to see the team play in the city home to the largest Iranian diaspora community.

Some spectators held large lion-and-sun flags in the front rows just hours after a court upheld FIFA's ban on the flags.

Iran's participation in the World Cup has been beset by challenges since the war's outbreak, dividing the community in the United States.

Iranian Americans gather outside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles during Iran's first World Cup match against New Zealand Monday, calling for change in Tehran while waving the pre-revolutionary lion-and-sun flag. 

Demonstrators say the Iranian football team is synonymous with Tehran's government, while fans, their cheeks striped with red-and-green face paint, filed past, saying they were separating soccer from politics.

Protesters are seen stomping on an official Iranian flag snatched from a fan. Others are heard chanting "Shame on FIFA." This participant says they're here to protest Iran not the players.

Another protester says "peace between the US and Iran is not about" the people and their voices have been "eliminated."

The rally continued into the evening long after the match, with passionate protestors screaming at each other, holding flags, pounding drums, holding up middle fingers.

Southern California is home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran, many of whom arrived arrived the Islamic Revolution in 1979.