Iran thought they had done enough to steal victory in Seattle, but VAR had other ideas. Shoja Khalilzadeh’s stoppage-time finish was ruled out for offside as Egypt escaped with a 1-1 draw in a World Cup clash full of chaos, drama, and near misses. The result leaves Iran waiting nervously for their fate in Group G.
Egypt struck first in a frantic opening, with Mahmoud Saber capitalising on a rare mistake from Alireza Beiranvand to give Hossam Hassan’s side a fifth-minute lead. The goal set the tone for a match that never slowed down, with both teams trading chances in a relentless first half.
Iran responded quickly under pressure. After Mohamed Abdelmonem brought down Mehdi Taremi in the box, Iran won a penalty, but Mostafa Shobeir guessed right to deny the captain from the spot. Still, Iran pushed forward and found their equaliser when Ramin Rezaeian fired in from a tight angle after another save from Shobeir.
Taremi nearly turned the game on its head before the break, but his header clipped the post as Iran continued to build momentum. Egypt, already qualified for the knockout stage, began to sit deeper and lose control of the tempo as Iran surged forward.
The second half carried the same tension, especially after Mohamed Salah was withdrawn just before the hour mark. He was seen with an ice pack on the bench, and Egypt’s attacking threat faded without him. Hossam Hassan later said, “I talked to Salah and he said he’s going to be OK.”
Iran believed they had sealed a famous comeback in stoppage time. A loose clearance from Shobeir allowed Khalilzadeh to bundle the ball home, sparking wild celebrations among Iranian supporters in Seattle.
That joy lasted only moments. VAR intervened and ruled that Khalilzadeh’s boot was marginally offside in the build-up, crushing Iran’s hopes in brutal fashion. The stadium shifted from eruption to disbelief in seconds.
There was still time for one final twist, as Saeid Ezatolahi crashed a header against the crossbar in the 97th minute. Iran finished the match unbeaten in the group but still uncertain of progression, with their fate dependent on other results.
Egypt, meanwhile, held on to finish second in Group G behind Belgium, who topped the group after a 5-1 win over New Zealand. They now face Australia in Dallas, while Iran wait in suspense after a night of extremes that delivered hope, heartbreak, and controversy in equal measure.
