Are Iran the unluckiest side in World Cup history?
Iran's national football team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after a series of narrow misses and a controversial offside call against Egypt. The team finished unbeaten in the group stage but failed to qualify on goal difference.
Why it matters
It highlights the high-stakes nature of international sports and the impact of officiating decisions on tournament outcomes.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Iran missed out on a place in the last 32 of the World Cup on goal difference
The article provides a play-by-play account of the match and the tournament rules without political bias.
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