“If all goes well, this could be a prelude to the general lifting of the women’s stadium ban. Once spectators have shown their respect for the rules, we hope it will be possible to screen theIran-Portugal game in the same stadium [on June 25] and that will mark the start of families attending matches played […]
iran
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Darya Safai
“Do you know how humiliating it is for Iranian women to know that during the FIFA World Championship qualification games in Tehran, while they were prohibited to enter the stadium, foreign womencould be present at the Azadi stadium because they had a foreign passport?” — Activist Darya Safai, founder of Let Iranian Women Enter Their […]
Posted inAround The Net in Soccer World Daily, Story
Iran drops two national team players for playing against Israeli club
Masoud Shojaie and Ehsan Hajsafi, who play for Greek club Panionios, were dropped from Iran’s national team by Iran’s soccer federation for crossing Iran’s “red line” and playing againstan Israeli team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, in Europa League qualifying. The two players played in the home leg but refused to play in the away leg in […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Ali Karimi
“This is the demand of millions upon millions of female fans who’d like to watch soccer matches and other events up close. This important issue is not impossible, this dream of femalesports fans can be achieved through correct planning.” — Former Iranian star Ali Karimi, now coach at Naft Tehran, saying it is time for […]
Posted inOff The Post, Story
American coach Dan Gaspar heads to third World Cup as Iran books Russia tickets
By Mike Woitalla@MikeWoitalla Iran clinching aspot at the 2018 World Cup means American coach Dan Gaspar is heading to his third World Cup. Gaspar has for the last six years served as Iran’s goalkeeper coach and assistantto its Portuguese head coach, Carlos Queiroz. Iran’s qualifying for Russia marks the first time Team Melli has reached […]
Posted inAround The Net in Soccer World Daily, Story
WCQ: Iran qualification touches off impromptu street parties
With former MetroStars head coach Carlos Queiroz and Portuguese-American goalkeeper coach Dan Gaspar once again on its coaching staff, Iran became the first Asian team to clinch a berthin the 2018 World Cup finals when it beat Uzbekistan, 2-0, on goals from Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi. The win touched off impromptu street parties across […]
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NWSL: Waldrum is out as Houston head coach
Randy Waldrum, who left his job as head coach at Notre Dame, one of the most successful women’s programs in the country, to take over as the Houston Dash head coach for its launch in 2014, isout. The Dash and Waldrum agreed to part ways just seven games into the 2017 season. Assistant coach Omar […]
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Asian World Cup qualifying will go down to wire
The USA is in much better shape after its 6-0 win over Honduras and 1-1 tie with Panama, but if form held through the remainder of World Cup 2018 qualifying in Concacaf — every team won itsremaining games at home and lost on the road — it would still finish in fourth place in the […]
Posted inAround The Net in Soccer World Daily, Story
WCQ: Japan and Saudi Arabia pull clear
Japan and Saudi Arabia opened up a three-point lead in Group B of Asia’s World Cup 2018 qualifying tournament after recording wins over the United Arab Emirates (2-0) and Thailand (3-0), respectively.Iran leads Group A by four points over South Korea after its 1-0 win over last-place Qatar. The two two teams in each group […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Justin Meram
“I wish I wasn’t in this situation. I’d love nothing more than to be there alongside my teammates in the upcoming games, but for reasons outside of my control, I will not be participating in theupcoming World Cup Qualifiers.” — American-born Justin Meram, who represents Iraq in World Cup 2018 qualifying, on concerns about the […]