Iran Coach: We're An Oppressed, Unlucky Team

Iran‘s World Cup dream is on slight pause as the team waits to see if it made it through to the Round of 32 following a 1-1 draw with Egypt on Friday night that included bad luck on their side.

Iran’s Shoja Khalilzadeh thought he put home the game-winning goal as he shot beyond Mostafa Shobeir in the 93rd minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside after the front half of his foot had strayed just beyond the line of the last defender for offside.

Following the unfortunate break, Iran’s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, lamented the “oppressive” and “unlucky” nature surrounding the team after it was forced to move it base camp moved from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico.

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“There are rules and it’s all based on technology, I accept that,” Ghalenoei told a news conference. “But I am really upset because of the bad luck we had. Because of millimeters, our goal was ruled out. That’s justice. But I’m upset by the bad luck.”

“I used to think we were an oppressed team,” he added, referring to the travel restrictions placed on Iran during the tournament and visa restrictions that saw some staff members unable to travel for the tournament. “But I note that we are also an unlucky team.”

Later tonight Iran will find out whether they will qualify for the knockout rounds as one of the best performing third-placed teams.

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This story was originally published June 27, 2026 at 12:33 PM.