{"id":707,"date":"2026-06-22T10:36:49","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T10:36:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movingtohawaiiguide.com\/?p=707"},"modified":"2026-06-22T10:36:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T10:36:49","slug":"iran-draw-strength-from-adversity-after-holding-belgium-to-draw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movingtohawaiiguide.com\/?p=707","title":{"rendered":"Iran draw strength from adversity after holding Belgium to draw"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<p>INGLEWOOD, Calif. \u2014 Iran\u2019s players said adversity has forged a stronger sense of unity in the squad after they held heavily favoured Belgium to a 0-0 draw in their Group G World Cup match on Sunday, giving them a chance to reach the knockout stage for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/movingtohawaiiguide.com\/?p=705\">McGuire reflects on new BIIF Executive Director role, time as Kea\u2018au High AD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The result was another display of resilience from a team whose tournament has unfolded under extraordinary circumstances.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Due to measures imposed by the American government, the Team Melli squad have been forced to stay outside the U.S. between matches, while a number of Iran\u2019s team staff and officials have also been banned.<\/p>\n<p>Midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh said those difficulties had only strengthened the group.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it is part of our culture that in a difficult situation, we perform better,\u201d Jahanbakhsh told reporters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt has united us even more, and that\u2019s one of the things that we\u2019ve shown today. We showed great team character.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Iran frustrated Belgium throughout the match and, despite failing to capitalise after their opponents were reduced to 10 men, emerged with their unbeaten record intact.<\/p>\n<p>Iran, who have two points from two draws after also holding New Zealand 2-2, face Egypt in Seattle on Friday in their final group match knowing victory would send them into the last 16, a milestone the country has never achieved at a World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/movingtohawaiiguide.com\/?p=703\">Salah delivers Egypt historic first World Cup win; Are Pharaohs on crash course with USA?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe (travel) situation hasn\u2019t been the best but we don\u2019t want to keep repeating that because I think everyone is aware,\u201d Jahanbakhsh said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe go game by game. Today was an amazing performance but we cannot let down the next game against Egypt. We know how important that is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For the second straight match in Los Angeles, protesters opposed to the Iranian government gathered before the game.<\/p>\n<p>Jahanbakhsh said the team were motivated by the chance to represent Iranians everywhere, regardless of political views or personal beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe play for all Iranians in Iran, outside Iran, with whatever ideology, whatever preference they have and we make sure to make them happy, because I\u2019m sure at the end of the day they love Team Melli with their hearts and we respect them all.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe most important thing we can do as a team is to perform well and put our heart on the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Iran have never advanced beyond the group stage in six previous World Cup appearances, but Friday\u2019s meeting with Egypt offers them a chance to make history after a campaign defined as much by disruption off the pitch as discipline on it.\n<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/movingtohawaiiguide.com\/?p=701\">Proposed protest limits at University of Hawaii trigger concerns<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iran draw strength from adversity after holding Belgium to draw &#8211; Sports | Hawaii Tribune-Herald<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":706,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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