The run-up to the World Cup in Los Angeles was marked by anxiety over how immigration enforcement, travel restrictions and anti-Trump backlash would affect the spirit and attendance of the games.

But on the streets of L.A. over the last week, something very different has happened.

Fans from a kaleidoscope of cultural backgrounds have come together to act out the kind of world — and city — they want to live in.

On the shuttle bus from downtown to Inglewood on Monday, there were scores of people with Farsi-emblazoned shirts and crowds of grinning Kiwis as one would expect for the Iran-versus-New Zealand showdown that evening. However, there were also clusters of striped blue Argentina T-shirts, plenty of Team USA jerseys, and a loud group of fans chanting “Viva Mexico” from the back of the bus.

Similar scenes played out on the Metro K Line as World Cup-goers from all over traded stories of how they scored tickets, tips for navigating L.A.’s transit system, and wistful memories of tournaments past.

“This festival is about unity and bringing the whole world together; there are 48 nations and everybody is having a good time,” said Ardy Salem, an Iranian American dentist who traveled from the Bay Area to attend the game, as he surveyed the crowd outside SoFi Stadium on Monday with unabashed glee.

“Just for a moment,” he said, “we get to leave all the politics behind.”

David Leon, 32, of Watts was grinning from ear to ear as he stood outside the stadium entrance in his forest-green Mexico jersey, despite the fact that he initially didn’t support having the World Cup in Los Angeles.

“I thought it was going to be a big issue for a bunch of different people to come here,” Leon said.

Fans of New Zealand show their support as they perform the haka, a traditional Maori dance and chant, at Monday’s match.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Leon worried that people from other countries would be turned off by American politics and fearful about traveling to the U.S.

Instead, he’s been delightfully entertained by tourists documenting their wholesome reactions to American culture on social media — such as the German man experiencing Waffle House for the first time and the Swedish woman blown away by ranch dressing.

“It really does bring people together from all these different ethnicities,” Leon said, looking at the lines of people waiting to get into the stadium. “I’ve seen Colombians, I’ve seen Mexicans, people from New Zealand, people from Iran, Germans, Spaniards.”

And for his own community of Mexican Americans, he said the matches had brought a much-needed infusion of joy. This time last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids were roiling Los Angeles, instilling fear throughout immigrant households.

Fans of Mexico are on hand at Monday’s match at SoFi Stadium. Before the World Cup, there were widespread fears of ICE presence at the games.

(Kelvin Kuo/Los Angeles Times)

Just last month, about 2,000 SoFi Stadium workers threatened to strike if they didn’t receive assurance that immigration agents would be kept out of the venue during the World Cup.

Leon said he was definitely worried that ICE would take advantage of crowds gathering for the matches to perform further immigration enforcement.

But, so far, that has not been the case. Instead, many people in his hometown of Watts have been consumed with “World Cup fever,” calling out of work to attend watch parties at local bars and walking down the streets with eyes glued to a livestream of a game on a phone, he said.

While joy was the overriding mood among soccer fans gathered in Inglewood on Monday, the day was not entirely free of tension or pangs of grief for the people who were missing out on the fun.

James Carling, 63, of Ventura said it pains him to know that many fans from countries such as Iran, Haiti and Senegal are unable to attend the matches because of the Trump administration’s travel restrictions.

“Let’s face it, our government hasn’t made it easy for people to visit us, which is a shame,” he said outside the stadium. “There were people from countries whose teams made it [to the World Cup] who were not allowed to come and, sorry, that’s wrong.”

The shadow of the U.S. war with Iran and the anger many Iranian Americans feel over Iran’s current government were also present in Inglewood on Monday. Outside the stadium, some Iranian soccer fans had heated encounters with protesters who felt that supporting the Iranian national team was synonymous with supporting an oppressive regime.

Yet the atmosphere among the Iranians attending Monday night’s game was one of cathartic celebration, where for a few hours they could set aside geopolitical tensions and unite over the simple love of soccer.

In the stadium parking lot, David Arias, a Mexican American resident of Inglewood, gave a fist bump to Kam Pirouz, an Iranian fan who had traveled from Washington, D.C., to see the game.

Mexico and Iran are “homies right now,” Arias said, referencing the fact that the Iranian players are commuting to the Los Angeles games from Tijuana because of restrictions placed on them by the Trump administration.

Fans watch the World Cup group stage match between Iran and New Zealand at SoFi Stadium on Monday.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

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Although Arias did not have tickets to the match, he said he could not resist the chance to meet people from all over the world. So he decided to take his local barbershop to the parking lot outside the stadium and offer free haircuts to fans.

With an hour to go before Monday night’s game, all three seats at his pop-up shop were occupied; Pirouz, the Iranian fan, was getting a fresh fade while seated next to a Mormon missionary from Utah and an Egyptian fan.

“It’s the World Cup, man, the entire world comes together, and it’s beautiful,” Pirouz said mid-haircut. “Best sport in the world.”

Times staff writer Seamus Bozeman contributed to this report.

Waffle House and Carolina barbecue, the Auburn War Eagle and Boston Harbor boat parties, ranch dressing and bacon-wrapped everything. Welcome to America.

The United States boasts a tremendously eclectic culture, and, let’s be honest, sometimes it’s super weird and inexplicable, even to some Americans. So many things across the 50 states — they each have their own flavor and culture too — are uniquely American, which World Cup fans around the world are discovering as they come to the U.S., perhaps for the first time, for the 48-team tournament this summer. And several fans and fan bases are going viral with their adventures, team pride and sharing of their traditions and cultures too. 

Lionel Messi made history on Tuesday night against Algeria, scoring a hat trick while also tying Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the all-time men’s FIFA World Cup goals record.

After the game, Argentina fans were seen bowing together in admiration of Messi. It was more than a 3-0 victory; it was another moment that showed fans around the world are witnessing the greatness that makes Lionel Messi so special.

Messi was already widely regarded as an all-time great, but his 2022 World Cup win arguably cemented his case as one of the best the sport has ever seen. Now, as Argentina pursues another title, fans across the stadium continue to show their admiration for a legacy still unfolding.

A major highlight has been a couple of Germany fans, influencers Freddy and Fiago, who have been trekking around the U.S. and are thoroughly (and hilariously) documenting their adventures around the South and Midwest. 

But there’s so much more to learn about (North) American culture. So we’re rounding up the best and funniest moments as international fans learn about the wacky and delightful things the U.S. has to offer — along with their wonderfully unbridled support for their respective teams.

Norway’s fans have arrived for their team’s opening game against Iraq in Boston, and they’re flaunting their Viking culture in big ways. Or, maybe just in unique ways.

These fans decided to ride up the escalators from Boston’s South Station by rowing up them. It may not be the type of longship that their ancestors used to crisscross the Northern Atlantic, but at least it makes taking public transportation a bit memorable.

Cape Verde’s stunning draw against Spain was worth celebrating (unless you are Spain). It was the debut for the former in the World Cup, and took one of the tournament favorites to the limit. It’s one of the best stories of the early tournament so far.

And now that story includes fans celebrating with goats. Not goat, singular, but plural.

Depending on where you are or what your algorithm looks like, you may have seen Scotland fans putting orange traffic cones on statues. And their heads. 

One fan explained it simply to The Providence Journal: “So essentially, there’s a statue in Glasgow where some Scottish people, for a long time, have put a traffic cone on top of it. And it’s just become a bit of an icon.”

The Scotland men’s national team might have left the Boston area for Charlotte following its 1-0 win over Haiti on Saturday, but much of the Tartan Army remained. Countless Scotland fans were at Fenway Park for Sunday’s Texas Rangers-Boston Red Sox game, taking over America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.

One of the most cherished World Cup fan traditions has now made its first appearance at this edition of the World Cup.

As they have at previous international tournaments, supporters of Japan helped pick up litter in the stands following a game – this time after a 2-2 thriller against the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium.

The tradition of Japanese fans helping tidy up the venues after games — which follows a Japanese saying of “A bird that flies never leaves a trace” — became prominent when the men’s team made its World Cup debut in 1998.

The beloved gesture even compelled New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston, who is spending the summer as a FOX Sports digital correspondent covering the World Cup, to participate in the effort. 

The scenes in and around Dallas Stadium were nearly all orange before and during the Netherlands’ draw against Japan on Sunday. The Oranje Army took over Dallas, with fans marching across the city. 

The Oranje Army was more than the people in Dallas, too. One Oranje kitten went viral during Sunday’s match. 

The underdog of underdogs, Curaçao made its World Cup debut Sunday against Group E foe Germany, and while it lost pretty convincingly, 7-1, it had a special moment. Early in the first half of its tournament opener, Curaçao scored its first World Cup goal, thanks to Livano Comenencia, whose shot deflected off Germany captain Joshua Kimmich and found the back of the net. 

Fans absolutely erupted, players went wild and 78-year-old Curaçao coach Dick Advocaat couldn’t believe it. What a wonderful moment for Curaçao fans in Houston in their team’s World Cup opener.

UPDATE: The duck’s name is apparently Merlin, and it’s an absolute star.

OK, so this technically isn’t happening in the United States; it’s wonderfully delightful, and we’re here to have fun. The world has a responsibility to protect this duck, who is clearly one of Mexico’s best supporters. 

For one confused Japanese fan, it seemed odd to receive chips and salsa while visiting a Mexican restaurant without asking for them. As he wrote: “We have not earned these.”

But that’s the beauty. They are free. And they are bottomless. 

So three baskets later, even before his actual food came, a valuable lesson – in courtesy, in life, in honor – was learned. You can agree that this insightful fan has most certainly earned his salsa. 

When in the City of Brotherly Love, there is no shortage of historical or cultural sites to visit. But rallying at the iconic Rocky steps is always a special experience, especially when you’re in Philadelphia to watch your team compete in the World Cup.

*cue Gonna Fly Now*

Scotland’s mighty Tartan Army (as the team’s traveling fan base is known) is making itself right at home in Boston, including apparently finding — and loving — the infamous slide.

MORE FANS IN AMERICA

It’s the city that never sleeps, and it’s the fan base that is always partying. 

Ahead of Brazil’s opening World Cup group-stage match against Morocco, fans of the five-time champions took over Times Square in New York City. 

The last time Brazil played at a World Cup tournament in the U.S. was in 1994, when the team ended up winning it all. So these fans are expecting another stateside trophy. And with Brazil’s last win coming in 2002, there are high hopes that the streak can be snapped this summer.

But don’t count out Morocco, which will be aiming for another semifinal run after 2022. Even rapper French Montana joined the party in Times Square to hype up the fans of the Atlas Lions.

Do you think you miss Rod Stewart?

Some Southern Californian natives might have felt that way this weekend. Stewart canceled his concert in San Diego on Friday night, roughly 40 minutes before he was scheduled to appear on stage, due to illness. However, Stewart was seen at Scotland’s win over Haiti at Boston Stadium on Saturday night. Stewart even posted a video of himself flying to the Boston area ahead of the match on Instagram, while a representative for Stewart told the San Diego Union-Tribune that his illness was genuine. 

Who doesn’t love ranch? Come on, it’s absolutely the best. Feel free to disagree, but you’d also be wrong.  

An American staple:

Scotland fans seem to be having so much fun in Boston. They’ve also taken over Boston Harbor, complete with a party barge.

The fans even had one of Boston’s finest doing some keepie-uppies – pretty impressive skills there by that police officer!

Earlier this week, one Scotland fan shared his experience trying Carolina barbecue for the first time, and apparently it went so well it’s ruined his life. 

He also found Buc-ee’s for the first time. Seems like it went over pretty well. 

Buc-ee’s is leaning in, too. 

On the penultimate day before the start of the World Cup, German influencer Freddy wound up watching Argentina’s win over Iceland in Tuesday’s friendly at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. 

While Freddy saw Lionel Messi score a goal, he was more mesmerized by the SEC experience. The Auburn War Eagle is included.

He also made it to Waffle House and Taco Bell, among other iconic restaurants. 

One of the best parts about Freddy’s trip to Waffle House in Georgia is that he didn’t even go during traditional breakfast hours, as he sat down at 1 a.m and opted for hash browns rather than waffles. But this is really the best way to experience Waffle House anyway.

Drink up.

The smooth and soothing voice that generations of Lakers fans grew so accustomed to when Lawrence Tanter was the longtime public address announcer has put down his microphone.

Tanter, known as the “Voice of the Lakers,” has retired from his game-day role, the team announced Tuesday, and he will become a special advisor for Lakers game presentation.

Tanter, 76, sat in his courtside seat as the public address announcer for 43 years at Lakers games, starting in 1982 when they played at the Forum and lasting until late March, when the team announced he would miss a game to attend to his health. Those with knowledge of the situation who are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter said he had a stroke.

“Lawrence Tanter has been an integral part of the Lakers gameday experience for more than four decades, setting the tone for countless memorable moments with his professionalism, energy and signature booming voice,” said Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ governor. “Since the 1980s, LT has narrated every chapter of Lakers basketball, connecting generations of fans, players, coaches and staff while becoming a trusted and unforgettable part of the Lakers’ experience. I am incredibly grateful for everything he has given to this franchise.”

From the days of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, to the Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal era and the current LeBron James and Luka Doncic days, Tanter was the voice that resonated.