Iran entered the 2026 World Cup under extraordinary circumstances, becoming the first team to compete while at war with the host nation, the United States. This alone turned every match, press conference, and travel restriction into a geopolitical event. Despite the war, the US ultimately issued visas for the players, with American diplomats emphasising that “sports transcends borders”. This was one of the first moments in months when US officials publicly adopted a tone of openness toward Iran.
Iran’s 2026 World Cup campaign was marked by resilience amid difficult circumstances, narrow elimination, and a strong narrative surrounding a lack of good fortune. Iran competed in Group G of the expanded 48-team tournament. Their results were a 2-2 draw against New Zealand (15 June), a 0-0 draw against Belgium (21 June), and a 1-1 draw against Egypt. They earned three points from three draws and finished third in the group. Despite the expanded format, Iran missed the Round of 32 on tiebreakers and other results. Still, one congratulates them for showing defensive solidity, although they were hampered by what many observers called poor luck. One remembers multiple VAR-overturned goals, with Iran having three disallowed goals, reportedly the highest number in the tournament, as well as marginal offside decisions.
Iran (team Melli) competed in Group G of the expanded 48-team tournament. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei publicly stated that it sometimes felt like “God was at odds with us” because of the lack of good fortune. Despite the exit, they earned praise for a resilient campaign, as the team certainly achieved an unexpectedly strong showing. On 21 June, they held Belgium, ranked ninth in the world, to a draw in Los Angeles, leaving them within reach of the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, in Switzerland, Iranian diplomats were negotiating the thorny Hormuz issues. Many agree they were achieving significant successes. There were further positive developments as the US Treasury Department issued a sanctions waiver permitting the production, sale, and delivery of Iranian petroleum for 60 days. The move will bring immediate relief to the Iranian regime and could, over time, make Iran a prosperous nation once again.
The team enjoyed a hero’s welcome upon returning to Iran at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran, with huge crowds, emotional scenes, children wearing jerseys, and players embracing fans. Captain Mehdi Taremi and stars such as Ramin Rezaeian tearfully apologised for not advancing but vowed success at the Asia Cup. The reception at home highlighted national pride and unity despite the disappointment of failing to progress. The team also thanked the people of Tijuana, Mexico, for their hospitality, calling Mexico a “second home”. Overall, Iran’s story was one of fighting hard but ultimately being undone by a combination of draws, bad luck, and external factors. It was not a triumphant success in terms of advancing, but rather a heroic campaign that resonated emotionally back home.
One cannot overlook the saga of the Strait of Hormuz, which has now resulted in the gradual liberation of oil tankers and provided some relief from ongoing geopolitical tensions. These tensions included Iranian regulatory and assertive actions, vessel seizures, warnings, and the gradual easing or release of tanker traffic amid a complex oil crisis. Readers are aware that the Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, with roughly 20-30% of global seaborne oil trade passing through it.
During this year, Iran established a Persian Gulf Strait Authority and demanded that vessels use approved routes, cooperate with Iranian authorities, and, in some cases, pay fees or tolls. There were incidents involving attacks or strikes on vessels, with drones and projectiles reported in some cases, although Iran and other parties attributed responsibility differently. This led to periods of slowed or disrupted tanker traffic, hesitancy among shippers, and, at times, effective restrictions or “virtual blockades”. Traffic flows declined following warnings or incidents before gradually recovering. Some vessels were released after periods of detention, negotiations, or compliance with Iranian conditions.
Following the slowdowns caused by Iranian warnings and the reassertion of control, tanker traffic has begun to increase again. Shipping reports describe traffic as “slowly picking up”, with normal flows gradually resuming. More encouraging news followed around mid-June, when an interim US-Iran understanding culminated in ships being allowed to pass without immediate charges for a 60-day period. As of late June, Iran reiterated that tankers must use designated Iranian-approved routes or face consequences, while rejecting proposals to waive tolls in exchange for the release of some frozen Iranian funds.
It is ironic that, while Iran’s team was playing its group-stage matches, US and Iranian negotiators were meeting in Switzerland and Pakistan to finalise the Islamabad Memorandum, a 14-point framework aimed at ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The timing of the World Cup also meant that Iran’s football team became a symbol of soft power, national resilience, and international engagement. In short, football did not cause diplomacy – but it strengthened it at a critical moment.
