For two nations that have no diplomatic relations and no shortage of political enmity, there were plenty of tensions that had nothing to do with qualification.
There was plenty of animosity on show in 1998, as well
Iran’s athletes have become, in some instances, figures of resistance to the regime. One of the stars of the Iranian national team in 1998 was legendary striker Ali Daei, who slipped in a crucial pass to set up his team’s winning goal against the Americans. Daei remains a popular national hero and has spoken in support of the protest movement in Iran, calling on authorities to release the many demonstrators swept up in crackdowns by security forces.
. They were panned for a disastrous opening-game loss to England where none of the players sang the national anthem, before securing a clutch victory over Wales — where some of the players, perhaps goaded by authorities, did sing. “To make them the only people that they need to give you answers about the human being problems all over the world,” Carlos Queiroz, Iran’s coach, said at a news conference last week when confronted by questions over the protests, “I don’t think it’s fair.
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