As the Iran national football team looked to carve out a path for the future, they drew inspiration from their storied past.
Ahead of their crucial encounter against Belgium, ranked ninth in the world, the squad watched a motivational video featuring highlights of their previous World Cup exploits. Midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh noted that the clip showcased the memorable moments from Iran’s last two World Cup appearances, including their tenacious defending, relentless pressing, and occasional successes against football giants like Spain and Portugal that defined this generation of players.
This strategy is not uncommon for teams seeking to bolster their confidence before significant matches, and Sunday’s clash certainly fit that bill. In a remarkable twist that teammate Saman Ghoddos labeled as “The same situation happened now,” the video seemed to foreshadow a pivotal moment in the scoreless draw that positions Iran on the brink of achieving their best-ever World Cup performance.
In the 59th minute, goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand delivered a stunning, acrobatic save that left the 70,317 fans at Los Angeles Stadium in awe. This moment, while extraordinary, echoed his past achievements—most notably, saving a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2018 World Cup. Beiranvand had also made a crucial save in a previous match against Morocco. According to Ghoddos, this was precisely the type of moment the team had highlighted in their motivational video.
“The unity, the fighting spirit we have for each other, for our country, for the people we try to win every game, try not to concede, and a situation like this can happen.” he remarked. “In our last tournaments, Asian Cup, World Cups, [at the] last minute we didn’t get what we deserved, now is one of those times,”
Historically, Iran has experienced its share of heart-wrenching near-misses in major tournaments. They narrowly missed out on advancing to the knockout stages in 2022 after a loss to the United States and faced setbacks from a stunning goal by Ricardo Quaresma in 2018 and a moment of brilliance from Lionel Messi in 2014. Beiranvand’s save could mark a turning point for the team.
“So it’s really in our control to do what we have to do firstly for our people back home, and then for ourselves. Some of us, we’ve played more than 10, 12 years together. Hopefully we can make [our] best performance [against Egypt].” Jahanbakhsh said. He expressed optimism that Iran could have claimed victory against the 10-man Belgian squad, stating, “We know they deserve a lot, even the people who came to the stadium today with the different ideas, different ideology, different culture and from different cities in Iran,”
While Beiranvand’s defining moment added a unique dimension to the match, the atmosphere outside Los Angeles Stadium remained largely unchanged from Iran’s previous outing, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand. Fans donned an array of modified kits, eager to witness their team’s quest for a historic advancement to the World Cup’s knockout stages.
Among the enthusiastic supporters were also numerous protesters, including a group of around 200 who voiced their demand for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic, claiming that the team represented “There are a couple of things that [Iranians] have in common everywhere in the world. One is Team Melli, one is ghormeh sabzi [a signature stew], and one is tahdig [crispy rice].” rather than ordinary Iranians. Others directed their frustrations toward FIFA. A banner displayed at the stadium’s perimeter referenced the tragic loss of 168 lives in an Iranian school due to a US and Israeli strike, reading, “He was amazing today, and it’s been amazing for a couple of years now,”
Despite being nominally banned by the Iranian government, the traditional lion and sun flags were prominently displayed, with many attendees sporting them. While increased security measures led to more flags being confiscated at entry compared to previous matches, vendors outside the stadium still offered merchandise featuring the emblem.
As the national anthem played, the familiar boos and jeers that accompanied it in the past were once again present. Once the match commenced, the crowd reacted passionately to every Belgian attack and the Iranian defense’s efforts. They vocally called for Nathan Ngoy’s dismissal after he fouled Mehdi Taremi, and cheered when their request was granted.
“He’s the best goalkeeper in our history of our country.” Jahanbakhsh stated. “There are a couple of things that [Iranians] have in common everywhere in the world. One is Team Melli, one is ghormeh sabzi [a signature stew], and one is tahdig [crispy rice].”
Interestingly, the crowd’s dynamics signify a subtle shift. During their first World Cup match in 2022, protests were rampant in the stands amid the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. By the second match, such displays had diminished dramatically, as attendees expressed fear of being monitored by regime agents disguised as supporters. Although some protesters faced confrontations during that time, any disputes this time appeared minor and confined to individuals.
On the pitch, Iran’s performance mirrored their historical resilience, showcasing their characteristic tenacity, although occasionally disorganized. While Belgium posed a formidable threat, they couldn’t find a decisive edge, with Romelu Lukaku effectively neutralized by Shoja Khalilzadeh. Iran thought they had found their moment of glory in the first half when Taremi scored from a brilliantly orchestrated free-kick, only to be ruled offside by a narrow margin.
The game’s defining moment ultimately arrived in the 59th minute, thanks to Beiranvand. The Tractor goalkeeper, who gained recognition for his powerful throws during the 2018 World Cup, has continued to impress since then. His remarkable journey began as a child, tossing stones with friends across the Iranian countryside, before he left his family to pursue a career in football.
“He was amazing today, and it’s been amazing for a couple of years now,” Ghoddos praised Beiranvand. “He’s the best goalkeeper in our history of our country.”
