Iran in the Group of Death!

Security has been tight in Moscow over the last couple of days in the run up to the announcement of the World Cup groups. 

Journalists reporting on the FIFA final draw had to go through three body searches. In fact, on Friday, the whole of Moscow was under tight security. The hotel where most reporters were staying is only 15 minutes from the Kremlin, but on Friday it took them more than 50 minutes in slow traffic to get there. Security forces stood shoulder to shoulder and almost every car was inspected. Cars without permits were not allowed to get near the Kremlin Concert Hall, where the draw took place.

Entering the hall itself was even more difficult. Reporters and photographers had to go through six inspections instead of the usual three. If any laptop, camera, microphone or even mobile phone was not pre-registered with Kremlin security, journalists were not allowed to bring the device into the hall. But Russian officials had another surprise in store for the media — suddenly, at the last minute, officials changed the entrance rules for reporters and photographers.

Reporters and photographers had a choice: to either wait in the hall for the draw, wait in the red carpet entrance, or stay in the area where coaches and managers were supposed to give interviews. As expected, most journalists chose the Concert Hall, where the main ceremonies were to take place.

Three hours before the ceremonies started, special guests and coaches started to trickle into the Kremlin while, at the same time, FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino and the Russian deputy prime minister answered reporters’ questions inside the Kremlin’s conference room. Infantino’s press conference made an impact: when a German reporter asked the FIFA president about doping by Russian athletes, he responded with anger.

Underneath the Calm, Anxiety

Reporters and photographers waited to interview coaches and managers. The first one to step onto the red carpet was Mexico’s National Football Team manager Juan Carlos Osorio. “I can only say that I would welcome being in the same group with teams that handle the ball well,” he told reporters.

“I'd like us to play in towns that are not far from each other,” said Roberto Martinez, manager of the Belgian National Football Team.

“I must be honest and say that anything can happen — and that is all I have to say,” said Hector Cuper, manager of the Egyptian national team.

Of course, they were staying true to their football heritage, because until the draw was actually completed, no commentator will ever go into specifics. But stress and worry were clearly visible on the faces of the world’s biggest coaches and managers.

Iranian audiences waited in anticipation for the most famous and popular figures to walk out on the red carpet an hour before the ceremonies. These included Mehdi Mahdavikia and Ali Daei from Iran, Fabio Cannavaro from Italy. and the Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona. But Maradona had announced early that morning that he was ill and could not attend the ceremonies — but then arrived at the Kremlin hall after all, accompanied by his wife.

A schedule booklet and a ballpoint pen was placed on each journalist's seat to make it easier for them to record the announcements moment-by-moment. Present at the ceremonies were 210 VIPs,10 legends of world football and more than 1,500 reporters.

When Legends Meet

As the audience arrived, one of the most exciting moments was when Argentinian legend Diego Maradona and Pelé, the legendary star of Brazilian football, greeted each other warmly. In 2000, FIFA named Pelé the “Player of the Century.” However, many football fans believe that Maradona deserves that title, so relations between the two footballers has at times been cold.

Mehdi Mahdavikia, the former world football star who at one time drew Iran’s name from the pot for international competitions, was a FIFA guest this year too. In the draw for the 2014 World Cup, Mahdavikia draw the lot for Iran — so now Iranian reporters believe his presence in Russia and at the drawing ceremony might bring luck to the team, which is coached by Carlos Queiroz.

But Coach Queiroz did not arrive at the Kremlin with a smile on his face. In fact, he walked across the red carpet with an angry look on his face, giving rise to rumors that he had had an argument with Mohammad Reza Saket, the secretary of Iran’s Football Federation. A day before the draw, Queiroz had said that he was tired, and was planning to quit coaching after the World Cup games in Russia. He also refused to give interviews to reporters.

“Friendship and Fair Play”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Gianni Infantino opened the ceremonies. "Our country is looking forward to the championship and intends to hold it at the highest level," said Putin in his five-minute speech. "We have loved this sport a long time, with a strong affection that stretches across the country. I am sure that the forthcoming World Cup will be a huge factor in the development of the sport both in Russian regions and throughout the whole world." He invited people to visit Russia and enjoy a country "so big and multi-faceted." He said that he was looking forward to the World Cup because "friendship and fair play” are “values that do not change with time.”

In his speech, the FIFA president praised President Putin. ”Welcome to Moscow,” Infantino said. “It is a pleasure for me to be standing here and to speak after President Putin. The tension is growing and here tonight, my first thanks goes to Mr. Putin, to Russia, the 11 host cities, the Local Organizing Committee and volunteers. People coming here will find that Russia is a welcoming country. A million and half tourists will visit Russia next year to watch football...Enjoy the draw!"

After the two speeches, Miroslav Klose, the former German National Team striker, and the top goal scorer in the history of the FIFA world championship, brought the cup into the hall and placed it on a pedestal. “This cup is magical,” he told the audience. “Many great footballers have held this cup so, for me, holding it at this very moment is a magical moment.”

“I’d rather take a penalty kick”

Gary Lineker, the former captain of the England National Team and the host of the December 1 draw, started the event with a memorable sentence. “I’d prefer to take a penalty in a World Cup final instead of drawing for 32 teams,” he said.

In the first round of the draw, Russia, Portugal, France, Brazil, Germany, Belgium and Poland were picked, and were assigned to groups 1 to 8 in that order.

In the second round, Uruguay’s national team was assigned to the first group. Spain, the most challenging team in the round, was placed in the second group and so will compete against Portugal in the first World Cup game. Peru drew to be in the second group and will play against France in the second game of the tournament. Croatia got into the fourth group and will compete against Argentina in its second game. Switzerland was placed in the fifth group and will play against Brazil in its first match. Mexico got the sixth group, as did Germany. England was assigned the seventh group and will end its group-level matches with a game against Belgium. Colombia went into the eighth group and will play its second game against Poland.

The third round put Egypt in the first group with Russia and Uruguay. Iran was placed in the second group with Portugal and Spain. Denmark got in the third group with France and Peru. Iceland was added to the fourth group, joining Argentina and Croatia. Costa Rica was added to the fifth group. Iceland found itself sharing the sixth group with Mexico and Germany. Tunisia joined the seventh group after England and Belgium, and Senegal was assigned the eighth group, with Poland and Colombia.

In the fourth and final round of the draw, Saudi Arabia found itself in the easiest group. The Saudis will play against Russia in the opening of the 2018 World Cup. Morocco was placed in the second group with Iran, Portugal and Spain. 

In the first game at the group level, Iran will play Morocco. Australia, Nigeria, Serbia, Mexico, Panama, and Poland were assigned to groups three through eight.

2018 World Cup Groups in Full:

- Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay

- Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran

- Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark

- Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

- Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia

- Group F: Germany, Sweden, Mexico, South Korea

- Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

-Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

Iran is in Group B of the 2018 World Cup, along with Portugal, Spain, and Morocco. Iran’s first game will be against Morocco. Iran will then fight Spain in its second game and Portugal in its third.

Group B Game Schedule for 2018 World Cup:

- 3rd Game: Portugal-Spain, June 15, Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi

- 4th Game: Morocco-Iran, June 15, Krestovsky Stadium, St. Petersburgh

- 19th Game, Portugal-Morocco, June 20, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

- 20th Game, Iran-Spain, June 20, Kazan Arena, Kazan

- 35th Game: Iran-Portugal, June 25, Mordovia Arena, Saransk

- 36th Game: Spain, Morocco, June 25, Kaliningrad Arena, Kaliningrad