Iran vs. Nigeria: Who Says There Was No Winner?

It wasn’t Ghoochannejhad’s header, threatening danger to Nigeria’s goal. It wasn’t Enyeama’s superb defense. In Meshia’s opinion, the high point of last night’s Iran vs. Nigeria game in Curitiba was the behavior of the fans, both Iranian and Nigerian. “They were friendly, no matter what. They were civil, they were cordial and they were cheering each other on”, she says. Meshia and her friend Shahrzad, who live in the United States, are following Team Melli around Brazil. In Meshia and Shahrzad’s opinion, football brings everybody together. And that was the goal; that was the element of victory. “We are just proud to be here and proud to represent Iran. I’m happy,”  Shahrzad says.

Nader, an Iranian who lives in Canada, believes it was a fair game. He was impressed that so many Brazilians attended the match: “So many yellow T-shirts!"  For him, the game fell below his expectations but it was “better than losing.”

The mood during the game was happy and peaceful inside Arena da Baixada, but the same could not be said for the streets of Curitiba. A protest organized in the city center by the black bloc group “Não Vai Ter Copa” (There Won’t be a World Cup) began peacefully but, as demonstrators approached the stadium, things start to change. Some rioters tried to enter the periphery of the arena but were blocked. Frustrated by the huge number of policemen on the streets near the stadium, as they made their way back to the center of Curitiba, some protesters smashed shop windows and attacked banks. Many stores in the downtown area were forced to close. Police arrested 14 people, two of them teenagers. There were no reports of injuries.   

While media attention was on Curitiba, human rights activists took the opportunity to make their complaints heard. Before the game started, a group of LGBT activists protested against Iran and Nigeria’s anti-gay laws, drawing attention to the fact that, in both countries, LGBT people can face the death penalty. Prominent activist Toni Reis led the protest. Reis, the president of the Brazilian LGBT NGO Grupo Dignidade, believes the World Cup is an opportunity to call attention to the ongoing threats to human rights around the world. “What we want is for homosexuals to be free like any other person.” People should not face threats, prejudice—or in some cases, death—because of their sexual orientation, he says.

Many Iranians who had come to Curitiba to watch the game witnessed the protests. Arteen, an Iranian living and studying in the United States, says he knows of many homosexual Iranians that have had to flee Iran. “I think homosexuals should have individual freedom,” he says. “They should have the right to live their life anywhere."

Alhough the match between Iran and Nigeria disappointed many fans, anyone watching the match—whether at Arena da Baixada, on a big screen in a crowded café or bar, or in the comfort of their own home—could see that the atmosphere during the match was buzzy and celebratory. Who says there was no winner? Iranian and Nigerian fans made the most of every minute, cheering on their teams with gusto .

It’s likely that Curitiba will witness huge enthusiasm and excitement when Honduras and Ecuador play there on Friday—and protesters will no doubt take the opportunity to take to the streets again. And, as Team Melli and its fans pack their bags for Belo Horizonte, everyone will have the Iran vs. Argentina match in their thoughts.

Follow Tatiana Escosteguy on Twitter: @tatiescosteguy

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“Iran's Host City Curitiba is Ready for the World Cup”