The mistreatment endured by Iran football team at the #FIFAWorldCup is deplorable: singled out for visa games, denied their Arizona training camp, bullied by militant exiles in LA, a barrage of political questions at the presser--and they're the athletes of a war-torn country
The amount of grief nations like Iran are carrying while being told to just “play football” under awful conditions on US soil, after everything that country has done to their people, is obscene.
Think what’s impressed me massively this World Cup, is how for majority of games referees haven’t bought the theatrics of players trying to win cheap free kicks, just waved play on.
Credit to Egypt 🇪🇬 and Cape Verde 🇨🇻
Silencing the ignorant football snobs who can’t see beyond the European old guard.
Showing there are top teams and talent beyond the borders.
Following the disruptors like Morocco and Croatia in recent tournaments.
One of the wonderful things about this World Cup is the celebration of each other’s cultures and identities without repudiating someone else’s. Something we so badly needed in the current moment.
The fact that Cape Verde sent everyone forward in the 90th minute because they wanted to beat (NOT draw) Spain is everything that makes the World Cup beautiful.
What an incredible draw.
One for everyone who dismissed the presence of the “smaller nations” at this World Cup.
One of the greatest World Cup results in history.
Unbelievable from Cape Verde! 🇨🇻
I'm looking forwards to the posts from people who were slating the state of the World Cup due to the extension of nations involved.
What a moment for Cape Verde!
What a result for Cape Verde and Pico Lopes. They defended heroically and almost won it at the end. Spain not at it and some warning signs for them already. Some brilliant stories at this World Cup. Great stuff.
Pico Lopes playing at the World Cup, what a stunning story.
Wrote this piece last Christmas about his journey from his bank job to playing on the biggest stage on the planet.
Sometimes dreams do come true.