Iran May Be the Unluckiest Team in Sports


Athletes often try to hide their emotions, especially in press interviews. Ramin Rezaeian, a defender for Iran's national soccer team, wasn't about to do that on Friday night in Seattle. Minutes after Iran had a thrilling but devastating 1-1 draw against Egypt, Rezaeian did not hesitate to show his pain. On the verge of tears as he spoke to reporters at Seattle Stadium, he said he could not believe that a game-winning goal by Shoja Khalilzadeh three minutes into added time was disallowed for offside after a technically rigorous review. A victory for Iran would have guaranteed the team's qualification for the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in the country's history. To compound Rezaeian's agony, just before the final whistle, another potential decisive goal, a header from Khalilzadeh, ended up hitting the post. "I can't see any luck in my team," said a distressed Rezaeian. What followed, about 24 hours later, was even more disheartening. Despite the draw with Egypt, who face Australia in the round of 32 on July 3 in Dallas, Iran still had a chance of advancing. Three results needed to occur: Ghana had to beat Croatia, Uzbekistan needed to win or draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo, or the match between Austria and Algeria could not end in a draw. Just one of those three results. But Croatia beat Ghana 2-1. Then the Democratic Republic of the Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1. Iran's fate now depended on the game between Austria and Algeria in Kansas City. Someone, anyone, needed to win. The ending was breathtaking. With the game tied at 2-2 going into extra time, the Algerian players passed the ball between themselves, running out the clock, and the result seemed a foregone conclusion. Both teams would advance with a draw, and Algeria had little incentive to win and face Spain instead of Switzerland in the knockout stage. Game over. Until, out of nowhere, Algeria attacked. With a precise assist from Houssem Aouar, Algeria's Riyad Mahrez scored his second goal of the match to put Algeria 3-2 up. Iran still had hope. For a few seconds, it seemed. Because Austria had not given up. With a long, seemingly desperate cross, Michael Gregoritsch headed the ball to Sasa Kalajdzic, who in turn headed the ball into the back of the net to equalize. Game over. Austria survived and will face Spain in Los Angeles on July 2nd. Algeria will play Switzerland on the same day in Vancouver. Iran returns home. According to ESPN, never before in World Cup history has extra time featured lead-changing goals and equalizing goals. Iran's participation in the World Cup was marked by controversy. The country that hosted its games, the United States, continued to attack Iran during the World Cup, bringing unprecedented geopolitical tension to the sporting scene. Before the war began in late February, Iran planned to establish a base camp in Tucson, Arizona, for the World Cup. Instead, Iran ended up in Tijuana, Mexico, and could only fly to the US in short windows. Some members of the Iranian delegation hadtheir visas denied. During the tournament, Iranian players and coaches complained about the conditions, claiming they hampered their training and recovery, creating an uneven playing field. "It's a disastrous World Cup," Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi said on Friday. The team's coach, Amir Ghalenoei, called the U.S. government's treatment of his team "really terrible." U.S. officials argued they did too much to accommodate a football team representing a wartime enemy and a country that in recent months has attacked protesters with lethal force. Politics and sport will always intertwine. But leaving tensions aside, even if for a brief moment: how could we not feel empathy for the Iranian players, who were so close to realizing their lifelong dreams and uplifting the people of Iran? Following the team's official elimination, Iranian football's media department sent a note to journalists who covered the team, thanking Tijuana for their hospitality. "The memories we created here, the friendships we built and the kindness we received will forever remain in the hearts of every member of the Iran National Football Team," the statement read. "We hope our paths cross again."

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