Iranians woke early on Saturday to watch the men’s national football team face Egypt, riding an emotional rollercoaster as Iran fought back to draw but missed the chance to directly qualify for the World Cup’s last 32.

But all is not lost for Team Melli after the 1-1 draw.

Depending on the results in other groups, the Iranians could still reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history.

Iran had a troubled buildup to the World Cup due to the war in the Middle East, which broke out in late February with US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

The team has also faced the strain of considerable visa and travel restrictions in the United States, which is co-hosting the 2026 tournament with Mexico and Canada.

“It was a good game, even though they were unable to prepare properly,” said Iranian football fan Amin.

“I wish they’d played the whole game like the last five minutes,” when Iran was on the attack, the 33-year-old car dealer told AFP.

Fans in Tehran watched a broadcast of the match in a packed hall dotted with Iranian flags and portraits of the Islamic republic’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in the opening strikes of the Middle East war.

Emotions seesawed throughout the game, as Iranian supporters applauded and cheered every successful tackle while sighing and grabbing their heads in disbelief over the missed chances.

The crowd was stunned when Egypt took an early lead but regained hope after the referee awarded Iran a penalty.

The optimism was short-lived as striker Mehdi Taremi failed to convert from the spot.

Minutes later, defender Ramin Rezaeian equalised, sending fans into a wild frenzy.

“I really believe in Team Melli, especially since they didn’t give in after they conceded a goal,” Amir, a 16-year-old student, told AFP at the Tehran Book Garden venue.

Leyli, 41, who only gave her first name, was also encouraged by Iran’s display in the ferocious match played in Seattle.

“The game’s been good. We really didn’t play badly,” she told AFP during the half-time break.

‘Live with regret’

People were on the edge of their seats throughout the second half.

Some stood, while others paced around the hall to ease the tension before erupting in celebration when Shoja Khalilzadeh appeared to score what could have been the winner deep into stoppage time.

Their jubilation was cut short when the referee ruled out the goal.

The final whistle, shortly before 9:00am Tehran time, left the hall silent. Some supporters headed home, while others went straight to work.

“It’s become our habit to live with regret. Regret over the final moments, the important ones,” said Amin, the car dealer.

The 2026 World Cup is the first in history in which a host nation has been at war with one of the participating teams.

The conflict sowed chaos in the Middle East, with Tehran retaliating with attacks on Israel and US allies in the region and blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for energy shipments.

But the US and Iran signed an agreement earlier this month and launched a process aimed at reaching a permanent settlement in the war.

On the pitch, the draw left Iran third in Group G behind Belgium and Egypt, who secured direct qualification.

Team Melli will now wait on results elsewhere to see whether they can still advance to the next stage as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

Mahsa Azad believes the result did not reflect Iran’s performance.

“What a game. It’s a pity we didn’t win. They really did their best,” the electrical engineer told AFP.

“It’s football. The odds weren’t in our favour. Otherwise, we deserved to win,” she said.