VAR robs Iran of World Cup miracle in 93rd-minute agony

Iran’s World Cup campaign survived its most harrowing moment yet on Tuesday, when a late VAR review erased Shoja Khalilzadeh’s stoppage-time winner and left their knockout fate dangling by a thread. The 1-1 draw with Egypt in Vancouver denied Iran the automatic progression they had fought for, while Mohamed Salah’s side sealed their place in the last 32. For a nation whose participation in these finals was itself a fragile achievement, the cruel reversal at the death underscored how thin the margins have become in the 2026 World Cup.

How the moment that defined the match was wiped away

The drama unfolded in the seventh minute of added time, when Khalilzadeh rose unmarked in the Egypt box and powered a header past goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy. The Iran bench erupted, players sprinted towards the corner flag, and the stadium held its breath—only for referee Szymon Marciniak to signal a halt. The VAR review focused on a marginal offside call against Khalilzadeh, and after agonising minutes, the goal was disallowed. “After review,” the official announced, and Iran’s celebration curdled into disbelief.

It capped a sequence of late chances that had already stretched nerves to breaking point. Ramin Rezaeian forced a fingertip save from El Shenawy, Saeid Ezatolahi crashed a header against the bar, and Iran’s hopes ricocheted between euphoria and despair within seconds. The Independent framed Iran’s plight as “the most dramatic—and agonising—World Cup moment so far,” a verdict that will linger long after the final whistle.

The political and sporting stakes that made the error feel heavier

Iran arrived in North America amid extraordinary circumstances, their mere presence at the tournament the subject of global scrutiny. The squad’s journey—navigating geopolitical tensions and internal unrest—had already lent their matches an emotional weight beyond the pitch. A win would have secured their passage to the knockout rounds; instead, they must now wait on other results to see if they sneak through as one of the best third-placed sides. Egypt’s progression, sealed by Salah’s influence, only sharpened the contrast between the two teams’ fortunes.

The Independent framed Iran’s plight as “footballing purgatory,” a limbo that mirrors the uncertainty facing their nation. Three draws, zero goals conceded, and a goal difference of zero—statistics that once looked like a triumph now feel like a gamble. Amir Ghalenoei’s players have defied expectations simply by reaching this stage, but the VAR call ensured their story would end in heartbreak rather than hope.

The tactical chess match that slipped into farce

Egypt, meanwhile, absorbed Iran’s late surge with the kind of resilience that has defined Salah’s leadership. Their structure remained compact, absorbing pressure before springing forward on the counter, and when Iran’s waves of attacks finally broke through, the offside flag—or the VAR room—was waiting. The tactical battle had tilted in Iran’s favour in the dying embers, only for the match to slip from their grasp in an instant.

It was a reminder that in modern tournaments, no advantage is safe until the referee’s final whistle. The margin between glory and heartbreak can be a single pixel on a replay screen, and Iran learned that lesson the hard way. Salah’s influence in Egypt’s progression loomed large, but the VAR controversy ensured the narrative belonged to Khalilzadeh’s ghost goal.

Iran’s players will replay Tuesday night for years. The images—Khalilzadeh on his knees, teammates sprinting, the referee’s arm raised—will be burned into their memories, a cruel reminder of how close they came. For now, they wait. For Egypt, the relief is palpable. For the neutrals, the injustice lingers. And for football, the lesson is simple: in the 2026 World Cup, even the most dramatic moments can be rewritten.