World Cup 2022: Iran players sing national anthem before Wales game

Shaimaa Khalil, BBC News in Doha, Qatar

Outside the stadium, Ali – who didn’t want to use his real name – spoke to me wearing a T-shirt with the protest slogan “women, life, freedom” written on it in Persian. He had travelled from Tehran to Doha to watch his national team.

“Every day we go to protest, but the regime is bigger and they have more power, they have guns. We are with bare hands,” he said.

Ali told me the protesters have hope but are “frightened” and feeling “alone”, and added that they needed support from the rest of the world.

The national team has come under a great deal of pressure and been criticised for not doing enough to support the protesters. Ali said that, while he wants them to do well, he finds it “very difficult” to support the team or focus on the football. He said: “When [I] see my brothers and sisters on the streets in blood, how can I focus? How can I be happy?”

Earlier in the week, Iran captain Ehsan Hajsafi acknowledged that the situation in the country was “very bad” and that people were “not happy”. He also paid tribute to those who have died.

But on Thursday, during their pre game news conference, Mehdi Taremi refused to engage with any questions about the situation in his country.

Iran’s players are in a difficult position. They’re on the world’s biggest stage, representing a country in deep political turmoil where anti-government protesters have been killed and arrested. They’re being asked to have a stronger stance in support of the protesters, but anything they say or do will likely have repercussions back home.

All the while, the players have the crucial job of performing well, with the hope of delivering a victory on the football pitch.