Iran held 10-man Belgium to a goalless draw on June 21, extending their unbeaten World Cup record to two matches after their opening draw with New Zealand. Coach Amir Ghalenoei emphasized the achievement's gravity given systemic obstacles his squad faced before and during the tournament.
"We were in war conditions for six months; we didn't have our league operating," Ghalenoei said. "Many teams cancelled games against us. We came to the World Cup in the worst conditions possible." Iran's visa restrictions force them to travel to U.S. venues only a day before matches and depart on match day itself, requiring extreme logistical efficiency.
Ghalenoei hoped to negotiate earlier access to Seattle for Iran's final Group G clash against Egypt on June 27. "The players who came to this World Cup in this condition need to be congratulated. This will be written in the history of our football," he added. Iran's unbeaten status amid severe geopolitical and travel disadvantages may shift market perceptions of their knockout qualification odds.
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