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Seattle, United States – There were intentions. There were joys and heartbreaks. There was a crowd of anger, conflict and comradeship. There were protests, politicians and Palestinian flags. There was a missed penalty. There was excitement. There were disappointments.
in Egypt 1-1 draw and Iran in Seattle at the FIFA World Cup on Friday had it all. Iran remains in contention to qualify for one of the last eight, depending on Saturday’s results.
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Wild celebrations among Egyptian fans erupted outside the stadium after the match, as the country progressed through the group stages of the World Cup for the first time.
“I feel very good,” Daniel Salib, who wore an Egyptian flag, told Al Jazeera.
“After the game, and the game we played new Zealandwith the way we played against Belgium, we deserve it. So, I couldn’t be more proud of this country and this team. “
Egypt survived a late Iranian attack that saw Team Melli, as the Iranian team is known, hit the woodwork and had the goal ruled out by VAR for offside.
Iran was saved again in the first half, but the whole game was full of action, fierce fighting.
Iran coach Saeed Nassef said he was disappointed with Friday’s result but hoped Iran could have made it to the 32, depending on the outcome of Sunday night’s match.
“The Iranian team did very well many difficultiesbut we are very happy with the way he is playing,” Nassef told Al Jazeera.
Demonstrations
Protesters gathered outside the stadium, waving US and Israeli flags and carrying pictures of Iranian protesters. Reza Pahlavi.
Nassef, who carried an Iranian flag bearing the name of God, was one of the fans who told Al Jazeera that he was being harassed by the opposition.
“We have come to support the team. We have come to support the sport… It is not good for people to come here to say bad things because we have come to support the players. We want happiness,” he said.
After the match, Al Jazeera witnessed a confrontation between the government’s opposition and a supporter who carried an Iranian flag.
The protestors insulted the fan and called him a “criminal” and told him to leave the country. He also sang Islamophobic songs.
The fan, who gave his first name as Milad, approached the person conducting the music on the megaphone and shouted at the fans of Team Melli. He stood away from the protester before the police intervened to separate them.
“My story is not about politics. My story is: Players, they play for the country, they play for the people. I support the people. That’s it,” said Milad.
“Good or bad, it doesn’t matter. Our people went and tried to bring happiness to other people, and that’s important,” he added.
But the chaos could not cover the nearby festivals where the Egyptians gathered, singing and dancing during the history of their country.
Electric wind
Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was electric throughout the game – not an empty seat, not a moment of silence.
After the first half, several groups of Iranian and Egyptian fans started filming together.
The players also showed support for each other. After the final whistle, several Egyptian players consoled their Iranian counterparts, who appeared to be upset by the result.
Throughout the 90 minutes, spectators were seen alternating their chants between “Iran, Iran” and “Misr, Misr”, Arabic for Egypt, instead of singing to each other.
There were few Iranian flags pre-Islamic revolution – with a royal lion and sun – but they were much more than an official national flag.
Some people waved LGBTQ+ flags and rainbow gear, for the match that was designated as the “Pride Match” of the World Cup. But there was no sign of any problem in the stadium, even though there was a commotion about the matter.
Egyptian followers boasted of their ancient heritage with the headdresses and clothing of the pharaohs.
“We are proud to be Egyptians and we are very proud of our national team,” said Karim Elshabini, who was wearing a gold and black pharaoh hat and a red Egyptian football cap.
“It sounds amazing. Everyone is shaking. The people are very nice. The Egyptian fans, the Iranian fans, we all have a great time.”
There were many Palestinian flags at the game, including two displayed behind the goals.
Egyptian fan Bilal Ali, who brought a Palestinian flag to the stadium, told Al Jazeera that he wanted the game to be neutral, but with Israel. brutality continuing in Gaza and elsewhere, he could not remain silent.
“I feel guilty sometimes when I come (to see) the game and our people in Palestine are bombed and killed,” Ali added.
Several Egyptian and Iranian supporters chanted “Free Palestine” as they passed Ali with his flag.
‘Minab 168’
There was more to the game than football.
Hameed, an Iranian fan who wanted to be identified by his first name, wore a shirt he said The price of 168.
The message is meant to honor the victims of the school in southern Iran that was bombed on the first day of the US-Israel war in the country.
“I just want to remind the world that the plight of these children who were bombed, whether intentionally or not, should never be forgotten,” Hameed told Al Jazeera.
“This is why we should not have a war.”
He added that there should be a credible investigation into the incident.
“Politics aside, humanity has to live, that’s the only way to do it, whether children are being shot in Palestine, in Lebanonin Iran, in Sudan, in Congo, we have to protect them,” said Hameed.
Political comments, flags and protests aside, at the final whistle, it was Egypt and sporting history.
“Seeing your country after all these years of entertaining them, both high and low, finally putting everything high, good effort and getting good results is a surreal feeling,” said Rafael Youssef, who had the colors of the Egyptian flag painted on his cheek.
“I’m very happy for them, I’m very happy to be here.”
