World Cup fans cheer on their teams in Doha, Qatar

Reuters Videos
2 年前

STORY: In the past, the Iranian soccer team was a source of fired up national pride throughout the country. Now, with mass protests, many would prefer it withdrew from the World Cup being held just across the Gulf from their homeland.

Hamid Sha, a fan of Iranian soccer said, "we come here to support our national team, but our national teams are not the best representatives of Iranians around the world."

Before traveling to Doha the team met with hardline Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Photos of the players with Raisi, one of them bowing in front of him, went viral while the street unrest raged on, prompting an outcry on social media.

England hammered Iran 6-2 on Monday in an emphatic World Cup opener.