2022 World Cup (November 2022)

In spite of early qualification, Iran’s preparation for the World Cup was anything but smooth. Political issues overshadowed all aspects of the team and friendlies were either booked and subsequently cancelled (most notably against Canada) or would not progress beyond just a rumor. While Skocic had guided Iran from the brink of elimination to a dominant and successful qualifying campaign, however, he still had his critics who argued that he was not up to par for the world’s biggest stage. With many FIFA days left unused, Iran finally managed a friendly against an Algerian B side which ended in a 2-1 defeat. With internal conflicts regarding the coaching position developing, some believed that certain players had underperformed intentionally (similar to allegations in 1998 against AC Roma during Iviv’s reign that led to his dismissal). Many clamored for the return of Carlos Queiroz although there were just as many opposed to this idea.

With only a few months until the World Cup and rumblings about dissatisfaction with Skocic continuing, the federation’s technical committee announced that Skocic would be removed from his position and replaced with a coach yet to be decided. Many of the national team players expressed their satisfaction with this decision and their lack of faith in Skocic. However, a few days later the federation announced that the technical committee could offer suggestions but had no authority regarding removing a coach and as such Skocic was still at the helm. The awkward situation created by this reversal, in particular in regards to online celebratory posts of some of the players, was yet just another obstacle in team cohesion and Iran’s preparations in general.

With the dissatisfaction of players in Skocic’s methods becoming evident, it became clear that he would not be able to continue. Thus with only two months left until the start of the World Cup, he was finally let go and Carlos Queiroz was brought back to lead Iran in the finals for the third consecutive time. The move received mixed reactions. On one hand some thought that given Skocic’s inability to keep the players’ confidence in him, a move was necessary and given how Queiroz was already familiar with most of the players and more tournament-result oriented, he would be the last piece of the puzzle for advancing to the second round of the World Cup. On the other hand some pointed out Queiroz’s lack of success in advancing in the past two World Cups and failure to win any continental championships and thus considered him a tried yet failed experiment. There was also a third camp who noted that with only two months until the World Cup, it was not enough time for any new coach, Queiroz or otherwise, to instill their tactics and any change at this stage was too little too late.

Queiroz wasted little time in setting up camp and preparing for upcoming friendlies in Austria against Uruguay and Senegal. He made minimal changes to the roster for these games and played familiar faces. While the South Americans controlled much of the game, however, Beirnavand and substitute Abedzadeh both did well to keep a clean sheet. Late in the game Taremi came off the bench to score and give Queiroz a winning start to his second stint in charge of Iran. Iran then faced Senegal, the African champions, and in spite of Pouraliganji’s own goal in the 55^th minute, Azmoun levelled the score 10 minutes later with a header, five minutes after coming off the bench. With two impressive performances against strong contenders, hopes were high for similar results in the World Cup.

As the World Cup approached, internal turmoil and protests against the government swept through the country. This in itself caused divisions within the team as players chose sides. Opinions were split as to what role the players should play. Some believed that in a sign of solidarity with the protests they should all vacate their positions. Seeing as how the players showed no sign of actually doing so, many wished failure upon the team and actively cheered for their opponents. Yet others went as far as asking for Iran to be banned from the World Cup. All of this took a toll on the players who now had to deal with such side issues. A couple of last minute friendlies resulted in a 1-0 win over Nicaragua and a 2-0 loss against Tunisia.

When Iran finally flew into Doha, the roster contained many predictable faces and some surprises. Although the roster size was expanded to 26 players, Queiroz chose to only bring 25. Furthermore he brought along four goalkeepers with Beiranvand once again claiming the starting position. Much of Skocic’s choices had been cast aside with Quieroz mostly opting for the team and players he had worked with four years prior. Defenders Khalilzadeh and Kananizadegan were relegated to the bench while Hardani, Salmani, Mohebbi, Sarlak, Sayyadmanesh and Noorafkan would not make the roster at all. Iran would open its 2022 World Cup campaign against England while Wales and the US awaited them afterwards.

Typical of Queiroz’s lineups, Iran would field a defensive formation against England with five in the back and Azmoun on the bench. 

Disaster struck early as Beiranvand collided with Majid Hosseini and was forced off the field with only seven minutes on the clock. 

While it was expected that Abedzadeh would replace him, however, it would be Hossein Hosseini instead who would step in between the posts. Iran defended well for the first half hour with England missing chances when Mount fired a shot into the side netting and Maguire cannoned a header off the bar from a corner kick. Finally after 35 minutes England broke the deadlock when Bellingham produced a terrific header to convert Luke Shaw’s cross into the top right corner. 

Seven minutes later Maguire rose highest to meet a Trippier corner, nodding into the path of Saka who brilliantly thrashed home on the half-volley from just inside the box. 

In first half injury time Bellingham picked up a loose ball in midfield and surged forward before feeding Kane, who crossed for Sterling to stab home at the near post with an excellent outside of the boot finish.

Needing to make up the three-goal deficit Iran made a number of changes at halftime bringing on Kananizadegan, Ezzatollahi and Gholizadeh. Iran held on well for the initial 15 minutes before Saka cut inside from the right and curled home a low shot from inside the box to make it 4-0. 

Iran pulled one back minutes later, when Taremi slammed his shot under the crossbar and over the line from close range following an excellent reverse pass from Gholizadeh. 

But England hit back with a fifth just five minutes later, with Rashford finishing emphatically just under a minute after coming on after being set through on goal by Kane. 

In the 90^th minute Grealish knocked home into an empty net after Wilson unselfishly squared across goal after being set free in behind. 

Ten minutes of added time almost provided Iran with time for a second, but Pickford remained alert to tip an effort by Azmoun, a late second half sub, onto the bar. Iran would not be denied, however, as Taremi converted from the spot in the 103^rd minute after Stones had been called for a shirt pull in the box after a VAR review by the referee. 

At the final whistle a lopsided 6-2 thumping clearly demonstrated England’s superiority on the field.

In spite of the heavy loss, Iran still had two games remaining and thus a chance for advancing. While players refused to sing the national anthem against England as a show of solidarity with anti-government protests back home, however, this was not enough of a gesture for some fans who proceeded to boo and hurl insults against the team throughout the match, thus contributing to an already negative environment in terms of commitment and concentration. 

Facing Wales, Iran was forced into a change of keeper due to concussion protocols after Beiranvand’s head injury against England. 

Facing tremendous pressure from fans and experts over his wrong choice of starting 11, Quieroz made a switch from a 5-3-2 versus England to a 4-3-3 against Wales. While Abedzadeh’s past starting position contendership was considered, in addition to the six goals Hosseini let in the prior match, however, it was the latter who got the nod. along with Rezaian, Gholizadeh, Ezzatollahi and Azmoun starting. Contrary to the previous game, the players were seen mumbling the national anthem although given their lack of enthusiasm, it seemed like they may have been ordered to do so. A nervy opening 45 minutes saw Wales with the best chance of the game when Moore struck from the six-yard line with the entire goal at his mercy, drawing a point-blank save from Hosseini. 

Gholizadeh thought he had given Iran the lead after receiving a pass from Azmoun although VAR correctly ruled him offside. 

In the second half Azmoun was released on goal and his shot hit the post with Gholizadeh shooting the rebound from outside of the box against the opposite post. The rebound from his shot was headed on frame by Azmoun but straight at the grounded keeper.

Iran kept up the pressure and Ezzatollahi narrowly missed a right-footed shot from just outside the box that was tipped past the post. As the game was heading to what looked like a goalless stalemate, the crucial turning point took place in the 86^th minute. Hennessey, the Welsh keeper, rushed 30 yards out of his goalline before missing the ball and clattering into Taremi. 

While the referee initially showed Hennessey a yellow card, after viewing VAR he changed his decision to a red card. 

Torabi sent the resulting freekick inches wide. Finally in the 8^th minute of stoppage time Cheshmi half-controlled a clearance at the edge of the box, ran after the loose ball and fired a low-driven long-range stunner that brushed the fingertips of the diving Ward and nestled in the bottom-right corner to give Iran the lead. 

As Wales tried to claw their way back into the game, Iran launched a counterattack. Bolstered by a four-on-two break, Rezaeian received the ball from Taremi and added a second with a cheeky chip over the diving substitute keeper and a sliding defender. 

With the 2-0 win Iran revived its chances of making the knockout round although the players were criticized for celebrating in light of events back home.

With a game against the US left, Iran controlled its own destiny. With a win in their final game, advancement was guaranteed although even a tie, combined with England avoiding defeat against Wales, would do the trick. For Iran Jahanbaksh would be absent due to accumulation of yellow cards while Beiranvand was cleared to return. Given the political history between the two countries, prior to the game both coaches were asked about human rights in the two countries about as often as they’d been asked about their tactics. Mind games seemed to target the Iranian camp. In solidarity with Iran’s protest movement the US Soccer federation temporarily displayed Iran’s national flag on social media without the emblem of the Islamic Republic, prompting Iran State media to demand the US be expelled from the tournament. Former German World Champion Juergen Klinsmann angered Iranians ahead of their politically fraught match by claiming that against Wales they had worked the referee and that it was in their culture. His comment did not go unanswered by Queiroz who labeled his comments a disgrace and invited him to the Iranian camp to experience Iranian hospitality and for a lecture on the millennial Persian culture and the values of football and sport. Going into the game Iran fancied its chances as they had scored four goals in their prior two games while the US had only scored one.

Both outside and inside the stadium US supporters were vastly outnumbered while Iranian players emerging from the tunnel for warmups were greeted by deafening roars in addition to whistles and jeers, presumably from Iranian fans giving their thoughts on current events back home. The Beiranvand-Hosseini swap aside, Iran lined up the same players as they did against Wales. 

The US threatened first in the opening 10 minutes when Musah’s shot cleared the bar from just outside the area. A few minutes later Dest sent in a low cross for which Beiranvand dove and punched clear. On the half hour mark Weah was gifted with a deflected ball in front of goal but, although unchallenged, his weak header was saved by Beiranvand. Given the required outcome, it seemed as if Iran was content on soaking up the pressure and playing for a tie although their lack of offense would come back to bite them. A headed pass by Dest across the goalmouth was tapped in from close range by Pulisic who crashed into Beiranvand’s knee in the process and needed treatment and eventually substitution. 

In the final minutes of the half, Weah’s run had him one on one with Beiranvand and his flick clipped the post before trickling in although the effort was called back due to a marginal yet correct offside call.

The half ended 1-0 for the US with Iran being completely dominated.

Early in the second half Ghoddoos was brought on for his first action of this World Cup and made an immediate impact with his header from Rezaian’s cross just clearing the crossbar. 

In the 63^rd minute Gholizadeh broke free on the right and passed into the box. While Taremi swung and missed the ball, however, Ghoddoos followed up with a shot that just curled past the opposite post. 

With time winding down Iran sent on Ansarifard for more firepower upfront. With the US now in a defensive shell, Iran claimed a penalty after the ball rolled up Moore’s body although the ref waived it off. In injury time Rezaian’s free kick met with Pouraliganji’s diving header which went just wide of the near post. 

In the 98^th minute a header into the box reached Taremi, who seemed to be pushed down as he nutmegged the keeper. As the ball trickled towards the goalline a US player cleared, and following reviewing VAR, the ref denied Iran’s demands for a penalty kick. 

Upon the final whistle Iranian players collapsed on the field with the second round of the World Cup once again alluding them.