The World Cup and Iran’s Lost Opportunity

As the 2010 World Cup wound to a close, Iranians, like all other onlookers, watched while Spaniards celebrated their country’s triumph in the plazas of Madrid and beyond.  Soccer fans worldwide were glad for the Spanish team, which was considered more skilled than its Dutch rival.  Yet the broader commentary on Spain’s win reflected gleeful relief– Spain was finally handed a piece of good news following months of a faltering economy and the highest unemployment rate in Europe.  Meanwhile, Iranian soccer fans watched with a hint of envy as they continued to grieve a loss of their own.  Last summer, their country endured its worst civil unrest in 30 years. A presidential election was purportedly stolen.  In the year since, restrictions tightened and Iran’s streets turned gloomier.  Some might say they needed soccer.   But what they received was disappointment.

The Iranian national team is one of the premier outfits in Asia.  They were heavy favorites to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.  But after multiple coaching turnovers and shockingly underwhelming performances, their tournament bid fell short.  Iranian soccer fans were crushed.  Not even Coach Ali Daei, the world’s all time leading scorer in international games, was able to resurrect the squad.

Despite their disappointment in failing to make the cut in the 2010 World Cup,  Iranians dare not forget how they shocked the world twelve years prior.   At the 1998 World Cup, the United States was grouped with Iran, and the squads were scheduled to play a momentous bout in Lyon, France.  The political undertones were as prevalent as the flags representing both nations.  As President Clinton addressed a global audience prior to kickoff, the tension in the air was mounting.  The stadium itself was penetrated by supporters of the Mujahideen-e-Khalq, an organization of exiled Iranian revolutionaries then based in Iraq and since branded as a terrorist organization by the United States.  Inside Iran, the everyday hustle and bustle of Tehran came to a screeching halt as countrymen gathered to witness the most important soccer match in the history of Iran.

The game itself was not especially impressive.  But while the US missed opportunities to shift the game’s momentum, Team Melli (Iran) was able to execute when it mattered.  As the Iranian team defeated the US by a score of 2-1, the situation inside Iran took center stage.  In one of the most memorable political moments in the history of the World Cup, the streets of Iran temporarily belonged to everyday Iranians.

Millions upon millions of jubilant Iranians took to the streets and publicly celebrated in a manner that the Islamic Republic of Iran had never witnessed before.  The mandated chador came off, the dancing lasted all night, and many now believe the regime had lost control of the streets.  While the celebrations contained political undertones, the evening clearly belonged to Iran’s triumphant performance.  As has been seen time and time again, the beautiful game briefly transformed another oppressive street into a frenzy of unparalleled chaos.  And ever since, the Mullahs have kept a close eye on Team Melli.  In fact, to this day, strong rumors persist that the regime forced the team to lose a crucial game against Bahrain in 2001.

On the streets, numbers like this would not be seen again until the election protests of 2009.  Of course, these mass gatherings were of a far more serious tone.  The mood was of detest and frustration.  The months passed and soon months turned into seasons as protest crowds dwindled.  On the eve of the one year anniversary in June, many were anxious to measure the sustainability of the movement.  How would the Green respond a year following the event they viewed as the robbery of the people’s will?  On this anniversary, the people stood no chance.  The regime had months to strategize and limit the ability of a small group from turning into an international headline.  For the Mullahs, this was not their first rodeo.

What needs to happen, many have since realized, is a spontaneous event to spark sudden protests.  This was all the more evident last December in the death of one of Shia Islam’s most influential leaders.  The sudden passing away of Grand Ayatollah Ali Montazeri resulted in some of the largest and most boisterous crowds of the entire struggle.  For the Green, the precarious role of a wait and react game led to diminished international media interest.

And as the events of this World Cup unfolded, one is left wondering what mysterious powers the beautiful game may have unleashed this time.  If Iran had qualified and upset a traditional power at the tournament, a scenario that played out over and over in South Africa, the regime may have encountered serious trouble.  Dare we ponder the aftermath of an unthinkable Iranian run deep into the later stages?  If the World Cup stopped a civil war in the Ivory Coast, it could very well have sparked a revolution in Iran.  But just like the game, execution only counts when it matters.

© View from Damavand 2010.  All rights reserved.