Iranians @ North American Leagues

[Team Melli Fan]

Professional (MLS, USL-C, USL-L1, MLS Next Pro, NISA, NWSL, CPL, pro abroad):

USA:
Steven Beitashour ~ Los Angeles FC (MLS) -> Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Kaveh Rad ~ Sporting Kansas City II (USL-C) -> Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Jahon Rad ~ Sporting Kansas City II (USL-C / MLS Next Pro)
Zach Zandi ~ Philadelphia Union II (USL-C) -> Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL-C)
Sydney Zandi ~ University of Virginia (NCAA-WD1) -> San Diego Wave (NWSL)
Xavi Gnaulati ~ San Diego Loyal (USL-C)
Amir Bashti ~ Atlanta United II (USL-C)
Cyrus Rad ~ North Carolina State (NCAA-D1) -> Forward Madison (USL-L1)
Braxton Taghvai-Najib ~ Birmingham Legion (USL-C) -> Fort Lauderdale CF (USL-L1)
Arshia Babazadeh ~ Michigan Stars FC (NISA) -> Austin Bold (USL-C)
Thomas Williamson ~ Minnesota United 2 (MLS Next Pro)
Iman Mafi ~ Clemson Tigers (NCAA-D1) -> Vindbjart FK
Valdemar Sadrifar ~ Vejle BK -> Manhattan SC (USL-L2)
Shayan Soltanzadeh ~ Toronto FC II (MLS Next Pro)
Kahveh Zahiroleslam ~ Yale University (NCAA-D1) -> Sint-Truiden
Lily Nabet ~ Angel City FC (NWSL)
Aiden Hezarkhani ~ Real Salt Lake Academy U17 (U17 MLS Next) -> Real Monarchs (MLS Next Pro)

Canada:
Alessandro Hojabrpour ~ Pacific FC (CPL) -> Forge FC (CPL)
Adam Hemati ~ Toronto FC Academy (MLS) -> Persepolis
Nima Moazeni Zadeh ~ Vancouver FC (CPL)



Semi-pro, college, & youth:

USA:
Shayan Charalaghi ~ San Francisco Glens (USL-L2)
Kian Fazel-Sarjui ~ FC Motown (NPSL)
Andisheh Bagheri ~ FC Davis (NPSL)
Hoshang Hatifie ~ FC Davis (NPSL)
Cyrus Ghaffari ~ FC Davis (NPSL)
Alex Shahmirzadi ~ Amherst College (NCAA-D3) -> Northern Virginia United (NPSL)
Jaycee Iranshad ~ Grand Canyon University (NCAA-WD1)
Vida Raietparvar ~ Vanderbilt University (NCAA-WD1)
Kimya Raietparvar ~ Vanderbilt University (NCAA-WD1)
Leila Azari ~ Vanderbilt University (NCAA-WD1)
Malek Bashti ~ UC San Diego (NCAA-D2)
Aras Atila Ashrafi ~ St. John's University (NCAA-D1)
Jean Ghafourian ~ Barry University (NCAA-D2)
Ocean Salari ~ Cal Poly (NCAA-D1)
Neeku Kazemi Purcell ~ UCLA (NCAA-WD1)
Kamran Acito ~ Duke University (NCAA-D1)
Massimo Erfani ~ San Diego Loyal Select (USL Academy League)
Melika Mohammadi ~ Emory University (NCAA-WD3)

Canada:
Lara Kazandjian ~ College de Montreal -> University of Memphis (NCAA-WD1)
Joel Eckert Ayensa ~ Cape Breton University
Amir Shirazi ~ McMaster University
Shyon Omrani ~ Rush Canada Soccer Academy -> Vitoria Setubal U-19
Sami Marvasti/Keshavarz ~ Pacific FC (CPL)
Kourosh Jamshidi ~ Vancouver FC (CPL)
Amirmahdi Ghasemi ~ Vancouver Whitecaps Academy (League1 BC)



Others (coaches, owners, referees, former players, etc.):

Afshin Ghotbi ~ LA Galaxy (former assistant coach) (MLS) -> Vancouver FC (head coach) (CPL)
Omid Namazi ~ Houston Dynamo (assistant coach) (MLS) -> Hartford Athletic (assistant coach) (USL-C)
Katayoun Khosrowyar ~ OL Reign Academy (coach) (USDA)
Ramak Safi ~ Jacksonville Armada II (coach) (NPSL)
Hadi Aghily ~ USSF B License (coach)
Azad Palani ~ Vancouver FC (assistant coach) (CPL)
Ali Mansouri ~ Orange County SC (founder/minority investor) (USL-C)
Nader Dejbakhsh ~ Orange County FC (founder/owner) (NPSL & UPSL)
Alecko Eskandarian (front office) (MLS)
Nima Saghafi (referee) (MLS)
Farhad Dadkho (referee) (NWSL & USL-C)
Omeed Azadpour (referee) (USL-C)
Alexander Nouri ~ USMNT (former assistant coach) -> Kavala FC
Khodadad Azizi ~ San Jose Earthquakes (former player) (MLS)
Mohammad Khakpour ~ NY/NJ MetroStars (former player) (MLS)
Andranik Eskandarian ~ New York Cosmos (former player) (NASL)
Cha Cha Namdar ~ San Diego Sockers (former player) (NASL)
Parviz Ghelichkhani ~ San Jose Earthquakes (former player) (NASL)
Iraj Danaeifard ~ Tulsa Roughnecks (former player) (NASL)
Danny Karbassiyoon ~ Roanoke Star (former player) -> Arsenal FC
Navid Mashinchi ~ Vancouver Whitecaps (former player) (USL)
Kia Zolgharnain ~ Phoenix Pride (former player) (MISL)
Esfandiar Baharmast (former referee) (MLS)

[ABalls]

Good thread to open up. Kinda surprising that we don't have more in MLS considering the diaspora.

[PEJ]

Most Second generation Iranian kids are too assimilated. They all want to be Football or basketball players. It’s like dude, look at your parents, no way you are going anywhere playing those sports. Lol

[KC McElroy]

USA:
Steven Beitashour ~ Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Amir Bashti ~ Atlanta United II (USL)
Kaveh Rad ~ Sporting Kansas City II (USL)
Jahon Rad ~ Sporting Kansas City II (USL)

Canada:
Alessandro Hojabrpour ~ Pacific FC (CPL)

I discovered him 8 years ago.

http://www.persianfootball.com/forum...-slipping-away

[perspolis#1]

Most Second generation Iranian kids are too assimilated. They all want to be Football or basketball players. It’s like dude, look at your parents, no way you are going anywhere playing those sports. Lol

Plenty of us play futbol but went the route of picking the three job options our parents "let us" have instead of playing futbol professionally

[Team Melli Fan]

Most recent matches:


Beitashour: 59' vs LA Galaxy (Oct 24, 2019)

Bashti: 90' vs Tampa Bay Rowdies (Sept 16, 2020)

Kaveh: 90' vs Saint Louis FC (Sept 19, 2020)
Jahon: 10' vs Saint Louis FC (Sept 19, 2020)

Hojabrpour: 16' vs HFX Wanderers (Sept 15, 2020)

Upcoming games:

Kaveh & Jahon Rad: Tue 9/22 @ 6 pm PT vs Austin (ESPN+)
Bashti: Wed 9/23 @ 4:30 pm PT vs New York RB 2 (ESPN+)
Beitashour: Wed 9/23 @ 6 pm PT vs San Jose (ESPN+)
Hojabrpour: April 2021 (OneSoccer)

[Team Melli Fan]

Bashti starting, game on ESPN+

[Team Melli Fan]

GOAL BASHTI!

[PrinceAli]

NY Red Bulls II has a player named Barry Sharifi on their bench in this match. Is he Iranian?

[Team Melli Fan]

NY Red Bulls II has a player named Barry Sharifi on their bench in this match. Is he Iranian?

Afghan

[Team Melli Fan]

Beitashour on the bench, game on ESPN+

[Ghermez Agha]

Beitashour ra bezar tu!

[Team Melli Fan]

[teammelli91]

Eyval! I hope one of them comes to DC United

[teammelli91]

Beitashour ra bezar tu!

Mehrdad with his American accent: “Beitashoorro beyzar 2! Beitashoorro beyzar 2! And they were chanting that for a good minute.”