This year’s FIFA World Cup series has been a whirlwind of news coverage and public interaction, bringing it to the attention of far more US residents than ever before. Besides the success of the US team, the numerous political actions and statements, copious patriotism, and tense competition in the air since the start of the tournament, this year’s competition has been filled with controversy.

One of the most prominent pieces of news to come out of the World Cup was the Iranian players protesting against their own country. Starting in September of this year, tens of thousands of Iranian citizens have been protesting against the Islamic Regime and its sentencing, torturing, and killing of political prisoners, journalists, and women who do not abide by strict moral rules. In the past two months, as many as 14,000 protestors have been arrested and at least 342 people have been killed.

In protest of the Islamic Regime’s violence, the Iranian team refused to sing the national anthem before their game against England. In response, Iran threatened imprisonment against the players’ families if they should refuse to sing the anthem again, with sources saying that the families would face “torture and violence”. After Iran’s loss to the U.S. on November 29, protestors back in Iran celebrated; however many fear for the players’ safety when they are to return.

Iran also called for the United States to be kicked out of the World Cup before their game due to a post by the United States Soccer Federation on social media. The account posted an image of Iran’s flag without the emblem of the Islamic Republic in support of the protests in Iran. The image was live for 24 hours. After Iran’s loss to the U.S. on November 29, protestors back in Iran celebrated, however many fear for the players’ safety when they are to return.

This year’s tournament goes to show how sports are more than just fun competitions but have real-world impacts for many countries. For countries like Iran, the World Cup is intertwined with both the glory of the sport and a hotbed of political dissension.