Iran's World Cup squad received a rousing reception on their return home on Wednesday, with hundreds of supporters gathering at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport to welcome the team despite their group-stage exit, reports AFP.
The homecoming stood in sharp contrast to the chilly reception the squad experienced upon arriving in the United States for their three World Cup group matches.
Chanting "Iran, Iran!", hundreds of children, parents and football fans greeted the players, waving national flags and wearing Team Melli jerseys as they applauded a side that came agonisingly close to reaching the knockout stage for the first time in the country's history.
Iran finished third in their group after drawing all three matches but narrowly missed out on a place in the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams, losing out on goal difference.
The excitement at the airport peaked when the team's flight from Turkey, where they travelled after leaving their tournament base in Mexico, landed. The players were welcomed by a military band playing the national anthem as they stepped off the aircraft.
Many supporters held up photographs of goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, whose outstanding display in the goalless draw against Belgium earned widespread praise.
"We apologise for failing to qualify and bring joy to our people," Beiranvand told supporters after arriving in Tehran.
Defender Ramin Rezaeian said the team believed travel and visa restrictions imposed by US authorities had made their campaign significantly more difficult.
"We deserved to go further, but the circumstances made our task much more complicated," he said.
Supporter Mona Banisafa, 42, said the players deserved appreciation despite the disappointing outcome.
"The national team gave everything they had. We came here to thank them," she said. "If the conditions had been a little better, I'm sure they would have achieved a better result."
Iran endured an emotional finish to the group stage. They briefly believed they had secured a dramatic winner against Egypt and automatic qualification, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside.
Their hopes were then pinned on results elsewhere. Algeria's stoppage-time goal against Austria briefly appeared enough to send Iran through, but Austria equalised deep into added time, ending their dream.
Senegal eventually claimed the eighth and final knockout spot among the best third-placed teams with a superior goal difference.
Iran's World Cup campaign was also overshadowed by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
The team relocated its World Cup base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana after US authorities denied visas to several members of the delegation. Although Iran played all of its matches in the United States, the team expressed frustration over travel restrictions, including being barred from arriving two days before its opening matches.
Student Nima Naseri, who joined the crowd welcoming the team home, said Iran's football deserved more.
"The team is truly loved by the people. They played well, but our football deserves better," the 19-year-old said. "The conditions affected us, but we also could have benefited from giving more opportunities to younger players.”
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
