WC Qatar 2022

[Keshwardoost]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_oy7XrSv4s

[Arman2]

It has nothing to do with politics and neither does football as they're leaving that stuff behind on the pitch.

It's a nice and classy jesture, and even if the other teams don't do it, let us be the "bigger person" and do what's right.

The idea sounds good on paper, but offering someone more than he ever would, makes it look like someone is trying to polish his image. Just give them the IFF emblem, like every other team and that's it. No rugs, no gaz, no artifacts.

[Arman2]

What did Ukraine ever do to us?

Well it's not about Ukraine. I mean all those other ball licking countries, who teamed up with the US. France, Germany, Britain etc. Sure IR is a goosfand organization, yet that doesn't give them the right to treat our people like dirt or mix politics with sports.

[Bahram23]

They can

[Keshwardoost]

World Cup 2022: Iran could prove key matchup for USMNT
SOCCER
World Cup 2022: Iran could prove key matchup for USMNT
MAY 2, 2022 BY ADMIN
By Doug McIntyre
FOX Sports Soccer Writer



In almost exactly seven months, the United States and Iran will meet at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in both teams’ final – and potentially most important – match of the group stage.

After missing out on the 2018 World Cup, the Americans’ Nov. 21 opener against Scotland, Ukraine or Wales (TBD in June’s European playoff) and the delicious contest against England four days later are probably more hotly anticipated. But for soccer reasons as much as political ones, USMNT-Iran might be the most fascinating of the young USMNT’s three Group B games.

And the result could go either way.

“This generation of Iranian players is probably the best generation they’ve had,” former Iran head coach Afshin Ghotbi told FOX Sports.

Ghotbi isn’t a household name for most US fans, but he’s perhaps the second-most decorated American coach overseas, after Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch. And Ghotbi is uniquely qualified to talk about what will be the second meeting between Iran and the US on the sport’s grandest stage.

World Cup draw: United States lands in Group B with England and Iran
World Cup draw: United States lands in Group B with England and Iran
Alexi Lalas and David Mosse react to the United States Men’s National Team’s being named to Group B alongside England and Iran in the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Before helming Team Melli from 2009 to 2011, the Tehran-born, Southern California-raised 58-year-old was a member of Steve Sampson’s USMNT coaching staff at the 1998 World Cup in France, where the Americans famously lost to Iran 2-1 . (Ghotbi was also an assistant on Guus Hiddink’s South Korean side that reached the World Cup semis in 2002, and he has led clubs in the top divisions in China, Japan and Iran.)

“The game in 1998 was very special for me,” he said. “Obviously, it had a political tone. Coming into the game, there was an enormous buildup of anxiety and pressure and stress, not so much on the American team but, I think, more on the Iranian players.

“It was a very difficult loss for the USA, not only on the sporting side.”

Ghotbi has not worked in the US since 2005, when he was an assistant coach with the LA Galaxy. But he retains close ties with the country – his parents and children still live stateside – and he has kept a keen eye on the growth of the sport and this talented, up-and-coming USMNT.

He knows Team Melli’s current squad every bit as well.

“The thing that makes this Iranian team special are the three attacking players,” he said.

Bayern Leverkusen striker Sardar Azmoun is the headliner. The 27-year-old scored 10 times in 14 World Cup qualifiers and has 40 goals in 62 international appearances overall. “He has size, he has power, he can finish with both feet and in the air,” Ghotbi said of Azmoun.

Porto’s Mehdi Taremi has been almost as prolific. And shifty Feyenoord winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh rounds out the forward trio. He’s a player the USMNT’s brain trust knows well, too; US Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart brought Jahanbakhsh to AZ Alkmaar when Stewart held the same role with the Dutch club.

“What makes Jahanbakhsh interesting is he has the quality to come inside [or] outside, “Ghotbi said.” He has fantastic final passes, and he can score goals. “

A stout and well-organized midfield and backline support the attackers; Iran conceded just four goals in their final 10 qualifiers. When the Iranian defense is breached, star goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand – a club teammate of USMNT fullback Reggie Cannon at Portugal’s Boavista – is often able to extinguish the fire.

“He is by far the best goalkeeper in Asia,” Ghotbi said of Beiranvand, who memorably stopped a penalty kick from Cristiano Ronaldo at the previous World Cup.

Beiranvand, Azmoun, Jahanbakhsh, Taremi and several other Iranian regulars are 2018 veterans. Given last cycle’s failure and the historically young roster, the US aren’t likely to have more than two players with previous World Cup experience.

Still, the Americans will be the favorites – if not by much. The US have advanced to the knockout stage in three of the four World Cups they’ve participated in since finishing last overall in 1998. Team Melli have never survived the first round in five attempts.

Yet even an already eliminated Iranian side would pose a danger to the US come November. Iran could lose their other two games and would still be welcomed home as heroes if they beat the Americans. That’s what happened last time.

“There is such an incredible anxiety and excitement about this particular fixture,” Ghotbi said. “When they come to the US game, I think they’ll bring everything to the pitch.”

US-Iran figures to be a spectacle for that reason alone.

“We have two generations of fantastic football players meeting together,” Ghotbi said. “It’s going to be a great game, and I hope everybody in America and everyone all over the world will watch it.”

One of the most prominent soccer journalists in North America, Doug McIntyre has covered United States men’s and women’s national teams in more than a dozen countries, including multiple FIFA World Cups. Before joining FOX Sports, the New York City native was a staff writer for Yahoo Sports and ESPN. Follow him on Twitter at @ByDougMcIntyre.

https://goalnoor.com/world-cup-2022-...hup-for-usmnt/

[sam20]

The idea sounds good on paper, but offering someone more than he ever would, makes it look like someone is trying to polish his image. Just give them the IFF emblem, like every other team and that's it. No rugs, no gaz, no artifacts.

That's a false assumption, if anyone is thinking that, and they're free to make that mistake.

It's a nice Gesture and our players don't get to meet or face most of the teams/players ever, outside of this tournament.

It's a sign of class and hospitality that Iranian culture is known for and the only reason we've done this.

[Keshwardoost]

yes just give them a big map where it says "Persian Gulf" in the front and the text: "Get out of" on the backside.

no flowers when we have sanctions and all this bs.. cant even get our fifa money to make preparations easier for the wc..

[O-ZoNe]

yes just give them a big map where it says "Persian Gulf" in the front and the text: "Get out of" on the backside.

no flowers when we have sanctions and all this bs.. cant even get our fifa money to make preparations easier for the wc..

We should give England and USA a very expensive Persian rug. Once the tournament is over we could then bring attention to the world and UN how both nations violated sanctions by accepting goods from Iran. Highlight the double standard lol

Sent from my SM-G973W using Tapatalk

[Hosseini]

It has nothing to do with politics and neither does football as they're leaving that stuff behind on the pitch.

It's a nice and classy jesture, and even if the other teams don't do it, let us be the "bigger person" and do what's right.

I disagree, these are matches between people, are highly covered by the media, and are a good opportunity to highlight the positive relationship between people of two different countries that have been at political odds. Iran and Iranian people are already so maligned in the media, improving opinion about our country is a good thing.

[Keshwardoost]

U.S. World Cup Opponent Iran Criticized for Slow Preparations for Qatar
ASSOCIATED PRESS17 HOURS AGO
News is always free on SI. Register to have it delivered to your inbox daily.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — While Japan and South Korea will start fine-tuning for the World Cup with high-profile warm-ups against Brazil next month, there are concerns in Iran that Asia’s top-ranked team has been slow off the mark with its preparations.

Iran is in Group B with England and the United States at the World Cup, which kicks off Nov. 21 in Qatar. But while there have been reports of a June friendly with New Zealand and talk of a potential match with Canada, so far Iran hasn’t confirmed its warm-up commitments.

“There appears to be no concrete plan,” Afshin Ghotbi, head coach of Iran’s national team from 2009-11, told The Associated Press. “Time is of the essence and preparation is vital to the success of Iran.

“Most teams have already arranged matches and many good opponents are not available any more. Iran needs to urgently set up appropriate fixtures in the build-up to the World Cup.”

There has been criticism within Iran about the lack of movement so far, with a Tehran Times editorial last month headlined: “Iran wastes golden chance as always.” The editorial hoped for greater urgency when the soccer federation meets to choose a new president on May 10.


Interim president Mirshad Majedi has said no games will be announced until details are finalized.

As the country is under international sanctions, attracting teams to Tehran or traveling overseas can be more complex for Iran than its Asian rivals.

Ghotbi wants to see Iranian players such as Medhi Taremi at FC Porto and Sardar Azmoun, with Bayer Leverkusen of Germany, given every chance possible to succeed in Qatar.

Iran, No. 21 in the FIFA rankings and currently coached by Dragan Skocic, has qualified for five previous World Cups but has never progressed past the first round.

“I faced many of these challenges during my tenure, as did those who came before and after me,” Ghotbi said. “It is frustrating as Iran has a golden generation of players and if they have the best support and preparation then they can reach their true potential on the world stage.”

Carlos Queiroz, Ghotbi’s successor as head coach, complained about the quality of opposition that Iran faced leading up to the 2018 World Cup, when it prepared with games against Turkey, Lithuania, Sierra Leone, Algeria, Tunisia and Uzbekistan.

“If you copy the preparations of the last four World Cups, you don’t go anywhere. It’s a simple conclusion,” Queiroz said in 2017. At the same time, seven Iranian players took to social media to ask that the country to emulate South Korea when it came to preparations.

This time around, South Korea, drawn in Group H along with Portugal, Uruguay and Ghana, will take on Brazil in Seoul on June 2 and then meet Chile four days later and Paraguay on June 10 .

Japan will start preparations for Group E — containing Germany, Spain and either Costa Rica or New Zealand — by taking on Brazil and Paraguay in the first week of June.

Saudi Arabia has also qualified from Asia and Qatar gets an automatic spot at the tournament as host. Australia and United Arab Emirates will meet in an Asian playoff for the right to take on the fifth-place team from South America for another place in Qatar.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/05/05...ns-usmnt-qatar

[teammelli91]

Mirshad Majedi, Hayaa Kon!

Team Melliro Rahaa Kon!

[maly3648]

I disagree, these are matches between people, are highly covered by the media, and are a good opportunity to highlight the positive relationship between people of two different countries that have been at political odds. Iran and Iranian people are already so maligned in the media, improving opinion about our country is a good thing.

We have been the ONLY country in the middle East to wear black wrist around our arms days after 9/11, we cooperated by allowing US jets to use Mashad air bases to attack Al Qaida in Afghanistan and guess what? We were put on the "axis of evil" while we've helped them big time.

The US military industry isn't interested in "peace" in the region, just milking countries thanks to conflicts they create or amplify.

If our players should be classy and behave properly, in line with our Persian culture, i don't see the point in trying to be more than that and give them "gifts". Let them give us something for once.

[Keshwardoost]

extending the deadline for completing ticket purchases until may 12
the deadline for paying and completing the process of purchasing tickets for iran's matches at the 2022 world cup was extended until noon on thursday, may 12.
According to the official website of the Football Federation, the deadline for payment and completion of the ticket purchase process for lottery winners ended on Wednesday morning, May 11, but due to some obstacles and problems of the bank transfer system in payment, especially in the early hours of the deadline, winners who have not yet been able to pay can pay the maximum by 12 noon on Thursday, May 12, to pay and complete the purchase process.
After the deadline, with the completion of the opportunity to buy tickets for the declared winners, the number of people who have announced their cancellation by non-payment, the replacement persons will be invited to pay and purchase the ticket by SMS and through the registration system from the reserve list, which can be paid within the deadline and complete the registration process and purchase the ticket.
Again, it is pointed out that following the previous announcement and introduction of the ticketing system, as well as the relevant information header according to the reports received from some abuses in this way, only sms received from the number 10009892 regarding the purchase of tournament tickets and payment links is valid and entering the payment page is only possible through the address of the Ticket.ffiri.ir.
http://ffiri.ir/fa/news/11804/%D8%AA...87%D8%B4%D8%AA

[teammelli91]

Mirshad Majedi and co.,

Today is May 11th. It is almost May 12th. We still have not heard anything concrete regarding Team Melli's preparation for the World Cup. If you do not respect the fans, at least have some respect for your talent. Have respect for players who wear shirts that sport the IFF badge. The IFF that you work for.

Team Melli players deserve to be treated with respect, with dignity, and as professionals. These athletes fight for their national football team. This is embarrassing. Not just for our team, but for all of the fans who love and support Team Melli.

[BacheLot]

hush pesar.....🤫
dont you know ... we need some peace and tranquility ......!!? agha mirshad is still having his midday chort, u know..!