Iran’s knockout status hangs by a thread after most dramatic – and agonising – World Cup moment so far

For an Iran squad whose simple presence at these World Cup Finals was a precariously run thing for so many months, the continuation of their unprecedented journey in North America is hanging, like so many others, by an excruciating 24-hour thread. But only after the most enthralling – and agonising – seven minutes of stoppage time you will ever see. For West Ham in May, see Iran in June: glorious goalscoring moments at the death taken away in the cruellest of ways.

It seemed time stood still in the Egypt penalty area as Iran defender Shojae Khalilzadeh swept the ball home before sliding on his knees towards his euphoric teammates pitchside, in what was the moment of the 2026 World Cup so far. And yet, heartbreakingly, the Iran defender did not cater for the two most unpopular words in football. “After review,” said Polish referee Szymon Marciniak.

VAR had its say. We know what comes next. And even after the most marginal of offside calls against Khalilzadeh, Iran were inches from triumph thereafter.

A goal-bound shot from Ramin Rezaeian was heroically blocked; Saeid Ezatolahi smashed a header onto the bar and over. Then, the referee put them out of their misery. For what could have been second-place and a Friday date with Australia in Dallas – ironically, where VAR is based throughout this World Cup – is instead their own version of footballing purgatory.

open image in galleryKhalilzadeh's stoppage-time strike looked to have clinched second place for Iran (Reuters)open image in galleryThe goal was ruled out for offside, giving Egypt a guaranteed spot in the knockouts (Reuters)But, some perspective: a squad participating against all the odds – a country at war with the co-hosts, facing protestations surrounding their pro-regime outlook at every corner – have so admirably emerged from Group G unbeaten. Three matches, three draws and a goal difference standing at zero. Will it be enough to sneak through?

Probably. By Saturday night, Amir Ghalenoei and his players will know for sure if they’re extending their stay at their Mexican base in Tijuana or not. Here, in a contest against Egypt where a win would have been enough for progression, they huffed and puffed late on for a moment to savour but, torturously, fell short.

RecommendedEgypt v Iran LIVE: Pharaohs survive late World Cup drama as Khalilzadeh strike ruled out by VAR and Salah suffers injury blowThe four World Cup results Scotland need to qualify for knockout stages‘Queer people exist in Iran and Egypt’: Inside the politicisation of the first-ever World Cup pride matchFor Egypt, they are through in second place, as Belgium secured a four-goal victory against New Zealand to take top spot. Mohaed Salah and Co will instead face the Socceroos while Iran are – as it stands – sixth in the third-place pecking order (the top eight go through) and pencilled in to face Switzerland in Vancouver on Thursday. But with three groups still to be completed, that could all change.

And, such is the questionable format alteration, it could all change very quickly indeed. For an occasion built-up for months as the first-ever World Cup Pride match – fashioned by Seattle’s local Pride+ Match Advisory committee, to coincide with the city’s annual Pride Weekend and the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots – there was a notable lack of rainbow flags, both on the walk across the waterfront to Lumen Field and inside the 68,000-capacity stadium, as day turned to dusk in Washington state on Friday night. On the contrary, it was not so much a pre-match billing of Pride but, rather, numerous instances of peaceful protest.

For the anti-Iranian regime march outside the Quality Athletics gastropub on S King Street, you had an anti-Israel small-sided football match fifty metres around the corner, the pitch outlined by pro-Palestine banners. A further 25m down the slope, a small group of “Trump is a fascist” demonstrators spread their message via leaflets. One sight of contrasting views saw a pro-Christianity preacher, relentless in his oratory, despite hundreds of pre-revolutionary Iranian flags around him.

Enveloping all of them – not in a form of protest but a form of party – were thousands of Egyptian fans, dancing merrily with optimism after their nation’s first-ever World Cup win last time out. Despite the myriad of perspectives, the kaleidoscope of colour, multi-nationalism and religious beliefs, it all took place without violent flashpoints, to the relief of the Seattle Police Department looking on. open image in galleryProtests against the Iranian regime took place before the match (Getty)Yet for all the preamble, it was worth remembering that there was a high-stakes international football clash taking place.

Would the match live up to the occasion? It most certainly would. Egypt, sniffing a first-ever top-spot group-stage finish at a World Cup, took the lead after five minutes; midfielder Mahmoud Saber latched on to a loose ball after Iran keeper Alireza Beiranvand parried Salah’s