Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Thursday, Oct 02, 2025

World Cup 2022: Wales fans heartbroken by Iran defeat

World Cup 2022: Wales fans heartbroken by Iran defeat

Wales fans have been left dejected after World Cup optimism turned into heartbreak.

The country's first World Cup for 64 years looks set to end at the first hurdle after a last-gasp - but deserved - 2-0 defeat against Iran in Qatar.

Up to 6,000 Welsh fans packed the Ahmad bin Ali stadium in Doha, double the pre-tournament estimates.

Many thousands more watched the game back home in pubs, fan zones and schools, where lessons were suspended.

Children in Wales were able to watch the match after the Welsh government told schools they could cancel lessons to show it.


Schoolchildren in Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph, Denbighshire, reflect the national mood

Two injury-time goals condemned Wales to defeat

Thousands had made the long journey to Qatar to watch the second game of Wales' return to the World Cup after a 64-year absence.

There had been a quiet confidence among many before kick-off following the second-half display against USA.

However this match, which kicked-off in 31C (88F), looked a game too far in the heat, according to fan David Crean, who had travelled from Cardiff with his son Jack.

"I'm gutted. We just ran out of puff. We didn't turn up and just couldn't keep up with the pace," he said.

"I just hope England win tonight [against USA]. If not, I don't really want us to be humiliated by them."

'It was a hostile atmosphere with the Iran fans'


While The Red Wall of Wales fans dominated one end of the ground, Iranian fans took over most of the rest, and were loud throughout the game.

Mr Crean added: "It was something completely different. My ear drums have gone."

Matt James, 33, from Caldicot, Monmouthshire, added: "It was an incredibly hostile atmosphere, like an away game. We would have taken a 0-0 but to lose in injury time like that is gutting."

'It's still great to be at a World Cup' said the Green family after the match


"It's a tough pill to swallow, but we will be ok tomorrow," said Becky Green, 48, from Llantwit Fardre, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

"After the way we played in the second half against the USA, I thought we were in with a chance. But it wasn't meant to be."

Dad Eric, 69, was also pragmatic and said: "We have seen worse things over the years as Wales fans.

"It's just great to be at a World Cup."

Neda said she wanted it to be 1-0 so it would be a close call, but was quite happy when the final score was 2-0


Iranian-Welsh fan Neda Arshadi said she was hoping for a win for Iran, but was sorry for the Welsh boys.

"I'm Iranian by birth, and as Iran won, I was screaming like crazy, and I think I lost my voice a bit.

"I'm sorry for the Welsh boys, because my boys are half Welsh, and the Welsh boys worked really hard."

She added that she loves her team, and her country and always wanted them to win.

"It was a fabulous moment for me, I was celebrating and apologising at the same time."

Wayne Vernon and Chris Hancock


Outside the stadium, fans were in fairly upbeat mood despite the result.

"The best team won, we can't have any complaints," said Wayne Vernon, 54, from Wrexham, who now lives in Melbourne, Australia.

"I was sat next to an old Iranian man and when they scored, he just burst into tears, so I gave him a cwtch. I think they just wanted it more."

Chris Hancock, 55, from Port Talbot agreed it had been an incredible experience just being at the World Cup, adding: "Who knows, we could beat England."

Despite the result, Colin Barker said he had had "the best week of my life".

The 47-year-old from Caernarfon, Gwynedd added: "I've had a fantastic time, I'm at the World Cup so will take the defeat on the chin. I can't complain, all the Welsh fans have had a great time out in Qatar, we are in the sun, and will have amazing memories."


Wales fans gutted to lose against Iran, but hope they will beat England in their final game



Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Trump Organization Teams with Saudi Developer on $1 Billion Trump Plaza in Jeddah
Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in Historic $55 Billion Buyout
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s TII Launch First AI-&-Robotics Lab in the Middle East
UK, Canada, and Australia Officially Recognise Palestine in Historic Shift
New Eye Drops Show Promise in Replacing Reading Glasses for Presbyopia
Dubai Property Boom Shows Strain as Flippers Get Buyer’s Remorse
Top AI Researchers Are Heading Back to China as U.S. Struggles to Keep Pace
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
UAE-US Stargate Project Poised to Make Abu Dhabi a Global AI Powerhouse
Trump and Starmer Clash Over UK Recognition of Palestinian State Amid State Visit
Saudi Arabia cracks down on music ‘lounges’ after conservative backlash
Saudi Arabia Signs ‘Strategic Mutual Defence’ Pact with Pakistan, Marking First Arab State to Gain Indirect Access to Nuclear Strike Capabilities in the Region
Sam Altman sells the 'Wedding Estate' in Hawaii for 49 million dollars
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
Kuwait opens bidding for construction of three cities to ease housing crunch.
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Did the Houthis disrupt the internet in the Middle East? Submarine cables cut in the Red Sea
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Iran Faces Escalating Water Crisis as Protests Spread
More Than Half a Million Evacuated as Typhoon Kajiki Heads for Vietnam
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes Surprise Stop at New Hong Kong Museum
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
×