After losing to the United States in the World Cup match, which was held against the backdrop of continuous anti-government protests in Iran, the Iranian national soccer team was given a sombre welcome home.
Iran’s national soccer team is greeted warmly upon their return
The players left for Iran late on Wednesday after their 1-0 defeat. In several Iranian cities, anti-government protestors had greeted the defeat with pyrotechnics and shouts because they saw the squad as a representation of the ruling party. Because they chose not to sing the national anthem throughout their opening World Cup game, Iran’s handling of the players will probably come under scrutiny. Many saw the action as a sign of support for the protesters. In succeeding games, the group did sing the national anthem.
A small group of supporters cheered and waved the Iranian flag as the national team was welcomed at the international airport in Tehran late on Wednesday. Sardar Azmoun, a striker, informed media after the most recent game that he was not happy with his performance. Iran participated in the World Cup for the sixth time overall.
After losing to the United States on Tuesday in a highly tense political match in which the players fought to score a goal in the last seconds of the game, Iran was ousted from the tournament in Qatar. Following the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in the care of Iran’s morality police in Tehran, protests first broke out in September.
The protests swiftly developed into Iran’s most significant theocratic challenge since its inception during the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The protest movement was allegedly orchestrated by foreign parties, primarily the United States, according to Iranian officials, but no proof has been offered.