From 1978 to 2022, Iran's World Cup journey has been defined by joy, heartbreak, and unforgettable performances, yet breaking the group-stage barrier remains the main goal at the 2026 World Cup.

Veteran Al-Alam journalist Hesam Zeidan spent years reporting from the frontlines in Syria and Lebanon, documenting wars and resistance, before being killed in the line of duty in an Israeli airstrike in Sidon on Thursday.

Iran turned US-Israeli military aggression into strategic victory: missile forces remain intact, naval deterrence forced enemy caution, and economic resilience prevented isolation, proving pressure cannot force Tehran's retreat.

In his 2026 Hajj message, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei called Hajj a perpetual spiritual migration, urged Muslim unity to shape a new regional order, and declared the American regime’s era over.

The 1982 liberation of Khorramshahr from the US-backed Ba'athist regime became Iran’s defining symbol of resistance and unity, a spirit that reemerged in the recent US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

Two years since his martyrdom, Iran remembers Ebrahim Raeisi as the ‘people’s president’ – a tireless, justice-driven leader who served the nation and championed the cause of resistance against the world’s arrogant powers until his final moments.

Iran football coach Amir Ghalenoei has prioritized a domestic core and tactical versatility in his 30-man World Cup squad, aiming to break Team Melli's knockout-stage jinx with pragmatic, battle-hardened resilience.