FIFA World Cup 2026: "People of Iran, forgive us," says Rezaeian after stalemate with Egypt
Seattle, June 27
Iran defender Ramin Rezaeian fought back tears after his side's 1-1 draw against Egypt, apologising to supporters and expressing hope that the team could still lift the spirits of the nation by reaching the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage.
Fars News Agency shared a post on X in which Rezaeian talked about his emotions after the match.
"I don't know why I'm so unlucky; I hope we get promoted so that the people's mood improves. People of Iran, we love you so much, forgive us," Rezaeian said with a shaky voice after being named Player of the Match.
The emotional full-back delivered a standout display in Seattle, scoring Iran's equaliser as Team Melli finished third in Group G behind Belgium and Egypt. While Egypt secured a historic first-ever qualification to the World Cup knockout stage, Iran's fate now hinges on results elsewhere as they chase one of the best third-placed berths.
Iran will qualify for the Round of 32 if any one of the following scenarios plays out: Algeria defeat or lose to Austria, ensuring that match produces a winner; Ghana beat Croatia; or Congo fail to defeat Uzbekistan.
The 36-year-old Rezaeian capped an impressive individual performance by levelling the scores after reacting quickest to a loose ball from a tight angle, cancelling out Mahmoud Sabre's early opener for Egypt.
Iran had opportunities to claim all three points but were repeatedly denied by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, who saved Mehdi Taremi's penalty in the opening exchanges before producing several crucial stops throughout the contest.
Iran's frustration deepened in stoppage time when what appeared to be a dramatic winner was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Egypt had taken the lead after Mohamed Salah's deflected effort was parried into the path of Sabre, who finished from close range. The Pharaohs then managed the game effectively in the second half, securing the point they needed to finish as Group G runners-up and set up a Round of 32 meeting with Australia.
For Iran, however, attention now shifts away from their own performance to results in other groups. As Rezaeian's emotional plea reflected, the team's World Cup dream remains alive, but only if the remaining fixtures fall in their favour.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is heartbreaking to watch. Iran played with so much passion but luck wasn't on their side. The disallowed goal in stoppage time must have been gut-wrenching. Coming from a cricket-dominated country like India, I know how much football means to Iranians. Bacheha-ye Iran, gham nakhor! (Don't be sad, children of Iran!) ❤️
While I empathize with Rezaeian, I think he and the team need to remember that football is just a game. The pressure on Iranian athletes to represent their country's image must be enormous, but apologizing for a draw? That seems excessive. They gave it their all and that's what matters. India learned that lesson long ago with our own teams. 😅
From a Western perspective, it's fascinating to see how differently athletes express emotion across cultures. Rezaeian's tears and apology remind me of how Indian cricketers sometimes react after losses—but the geopolitical weight here is heavier. Iran's qualification scenario is so complex. Rooting for them to squeeze through!
I'm a cricket guy but this World Cup has me hooked. Iran's story is like an underdog Bollywood film—full of drama, tears, and last-minute twists. That penalty miss by Taremi was costly though. You can't blame Shobeir for being a wall, but Iran really needed that goal. Let's see if Ghana and Algeria do them a favour. C'mon Asia! 🌍⚽
Respect to Rezaeian for his honesty. In North America, we often see players give generic press
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