Read 4 minutesUpdated: June 27, 2026 12:35 PM IST
“After review.”
Two words from Polish referee Zymon Marciniak and the heart of the entire country broke. Moments earlier, Shoje Khalilzadeh had fired a shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the six-yard box, stripped off his shirt and slid onto the touchline on his knees. Someone gave him a pair of sunglasses. A member of Iran’s backroom staff collapsed flat on the turf. Another leaned in and kissed Khalilzadeh on the forehead. The bench was vacated. Seven World Cups. never So far he thought.
Offside. Goal omitted. Yasser Ibrahim then made a great save to deny Rezaian’s shot after the ball broke free. Then, six minutes and 53 seconds into stoppage time, Saeed Izatolahi sent a header over the crossbar. The game was over 100 minutes old when Marciniak finally called time. Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoi slumped in his dugout and didn’t move.
Three draws from three matches. Seven World Cups, still no knockouts. Not yet, though.
None of these should be straightforward to reach. Iran entered the tournament in a situation where no other team had faced this final. US and Israeli attacks on the country a few months ago meant their involvement was uncertain for weeks. FIFA rejected his request to move the games to Mexico. They trained in Tijuana, were allowed to enter the United States only on match days, and returned the same night after each game. Their federation presidents and press officers were not allowed in the country at all.
The fixture had its own additional weight: a Pride match designation from Seattle’s local organizing committee, both confederations formally objected, and a stadium where some Iranian fans played their own national anthem and the pre-revolutionary lion-sun flag banned by FIFA. Galenoi, before kick-off, said his team will bring joy to his people.
Egypt were ahead within five minutes. Mohamed Salah went for a left-footed curler from outside the box and Beranvand tipped it around the post. The ball fell to Mahmoud Saber, whose shot had no right to go in. It went through Beranvand’s legs and into the net.
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Berenvand was barely troubled in a goalless draw with Belgium. This was something else entirely.
Iran won a penalty in the tenth minute. Captain Mehdi Taremi equalized. Mostafa Shober turned left, relieved. Iran equalized four minutes later. Milad Mohammadi’s low shot was saved by Shober and Ramin Rezaian drilled the rebound into the roof of the net from a tight angle. It was his third World Cup goal, more than any Iranian in the tournament’s history.
After that frenetic opening, the first half was evenly contested. Egypt had it better. Salah was taken off in the 57th minute and Iran began to feel what was happening in Vancouver: Belgium were coming off a 5-1 win over New Zealand, meaning Iran needed a win here to win outright.
They pressed. Taremi’s header crashed off the crossbar in the 89th minute. It was the second time in three games that Iran had been denied VAR – against Belgium, Taremi’s goal was ruled out for offside in the 26th minute. In the 93rd, Khalilzadeh came on and the bench streamed onto the pitch. And then two words. And then block. And then the crossbar again. And then the whistle.
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Egypt advanced to the round of 32 as runners-up for the first time, where they face Australia in Dallas. Iran awaits the results of Croatia, Algeria and DR Congo on Sunday.
The players left a handwritten note before leaving Los Angeles after Belgium’s draw. “From ancient Persia thousands of years ago to the civilized Iran of today, the spirit of Iran is alive and well. We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honor and left with honor.”
In the dugout, Glenoi still hadn’t moved.