Football in the Shadow of War
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY Ali Sharifzade
AUGUST 16 2026
TEHRAN, Iran
The difficult days for the people of Iran continue under the shadow of war, economic hardship, and ongoing social challenges. For many football fans around the world, Iran may only come into focus during international tournaments. Yet today, what defines the country is not football itself, but the difficult reality of millions of people living with uncertainty and crisis every day. And perhaps, in times like these, football offers one of the few opportunities to escape that reality, even if only for a few hours.
As football leagues across the world prepare to begin a new season with clubs holding training camps and strengthening their squads in the transfer market Iranian football is also attempting to move forward. But one question hangs over everything: if military conflict erupts again, will the season once more be brought to a halt? The concern is not hypothetical. Last season was unfinished because of the conflict, with no champion officially declared.
Few people around the world have experienced life under the constant threat of war and airstrikes. In such circumstances, football is no longer life’s greatest concern. When every day begins with the fear of air raid sirens or the possibility of another missile strike, survival becomes the only priority. This sense of insecurity has discouraged many foreign players and coaches from moving to Iran. At the same time, the country’s economic difficulties have left clubs unable to compete financially for high-quality international talent.
Persepolis, Iran’s most successful football club, was unable to continue with its previous head coach, Osmar Vieira, and instead appointed a domestic replacement. Meanwhile, Esteghlal, one of the country’s biggest and most popular clubs, parted ways with several of its foreign players. The combined effect has been a decline in the overall quality of competition and an even greater challenge for the future development of Iranian football.
Beyond these external pressures, Iranian football is also facing a crisis of governance. In recent years, the Iranian Football Federation has come under sustained criticism, with many observers arguing that it is experiencing one of the weakest periods of leadership in its history.
Perhaps no symbol reflects these wider problems more clearly than Azadi Stadium, Iran’s largest football venue. After years of reconstruction, it has yet to fully return to hosting matches.
As a result, Persepolis and Esteghlal, two of the biggest and most passionately supported clubs in Asia, have been forced to play their home games in a much smaller stadium with only a fraction of Azadi Stadium’s capacity. At the same time, restrictions on spectator attendance in recent years have further widened the gap between clubs and their supporters. If this trend continues, Iranian football risks losing one of its greatest assets: the passion and presence of its fans.
Yet for many Iranians, football is far more than just a game. At a time when economic pressure, security concerns, and social uncertainty weigh heavily on everyday life, football provides one of the few opportunities to smile, celebrate, and momentarily escape the burdens of daily existence. Perhaps that is why preserving football means more than preserving a sport it means protecting one of the few remaining sources of hope during difficult times.
The league will begin. The referee’s whistle will sound, and the players will once again step onto the pitch. But this season, every match will serve as a reminder that, in times of war and uncertainty, football is more than a game for many Iranians. It remains one of the few places where hope still survives.