Why are Iranians turning away from their national football team?

The absence of the usual jubilation after Iran secured a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup earlier this week reflects deep societal and political divisions that extend far beyond the football pitch.

Iran's national football (soccer) team, Team Melli, secured a World Cup spot with a draw against Uzbekistan on Tuesday. In the past, such a victory would have brought millions to the streets in celebration, but this time, the public response was largely indifferent.

Media outlets in Tehran, such as Rouydad24, and numerous social media users noted this apathy. "The national football team qualified for the World Cup, but there was no enthusiasm in the public sphere or on social media. The event seemed so insignificant that people behaved as if they had no connection to the team," journalist Mohammad Parsi wrote on X.

In stark contrast, when Iran qualified for the 1998 World Cup by defeating Australia, millions celebrated in the streets nationwide. The euphoria of that moment, when people danced in public without fear of morality police intervention, remains a historic memory.

Football has long been Iran's most popular sport, but many Iranians say they no longer take pride in their national team. This shift is largely political, rooted in the 2022-2023 "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022 while in morality police custody for allegedly violating hijab laws.

During the nationwide protests, Team Melli initially showed solidarity with the demonstrators. Some players, including forward Sardar Azmoun, openly condemned the brutal crackdown. Many others wore black armbands and refused to sing Islamic Republic's anthem before their World Cup match against England in November 2022, as a gesture of support.

However, under apparent pressure from security forces, the team’s public support for the protesters waned. This led to widespread disillusionment among fans, who began referring to the squad as the government’s or "mullahs' team."

The team's meeting with then-president Ebrahim Raisi before leaving for Qatar angered many supporters who did not expect the players to ignore the continued crackdown on protesters. Legendary striker Ali Daei and outspoken star Ali Karimi, charged in absentia for supporting the protests, said they rejected FIFA and Qatar’s invitation to watch the matches in Doha. The unpopularity of Team Melli reached a peak in February 2024 when thousands celebrated its defeat to Qatar in the Asian Cup tournament.

Inter Milan striker Mehdi Taremi, who scored both goals in Tuesday’s match, has also faced backlash. Taremi, known for his pro-government stance, was criticized for distancing himself from political issues and denying allegations that the team had been coerced into singing the national anthem.

The declining support has also been evident in dwindling stadium attendance—despite the match attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian falling during the New Year holidays, only one-third of Azadi Stadium’s 100,000 seats were occupied.