Ghalibaf likens Iran's World Cup draw to wartime resilience

Ghalibaf likens Iran's World Cup draw to wartime resilience Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf has praised the national football team's defensive performance in its World Cup draw against Belgium, comparing the display to Iranian people's steadfast defence of their country during the war against the United States and Israel. In a post on X shortly after the match, Ghalibaf shared a photograph from the game with the caption: "This is how we protect our land. " The message drew a direct comparison between Iran's performance on the pitch and the country's response during the conflict.