Arya Shafiedoost scores a screamer in his first Persian Gulf Pro League match back after a year out with an ACL tear. What a return for the 19-year-old super talent, scoring in his first appearance off the bench.

Varzesh Media published a scathing critique of Amir Ghalenoei following his self-congratulatory Instagram post after Iran’s World Cup exit. “Should I resign too? We’re ashamed of you, Amir Khan!” At a time when it is rare for the coach of a national team that failed at the World Cup to avoid sweeping technical and managerial changes - here in Iran, Amir Ghalenoei and his coaching staff have clung tightly to their positions and now even expect praise and gratitude. This was Ghalenoei’s first Instagram reaction to Iran’s World Cup campaign. The post was filled with exaggerated language and flowery rhetoric that had little to do with reality. In that post, Amir not only showed no sign of accepting responsibility or stepping aside, but also portrayed himself and the players as men who had gone off to war. Once again, he revived the old emotional narrative of “our players gave everything,” recalling the joyous scenes after the Wales match while ignoring the overall failure of the campaign. Even after such a humiliating outcome, he still casts himself as the hero. They have completely embraced the image of victors and champions. As the Iranian people, our duty is to demand accountability from Ghalenoei and his aging coaching staff. We should be ashamed that after all this supposed sacrifice, heroism, and “great epic,” we didn’t even win a bronze medal.“