SAEDNEWS: A newly surfaced photograph captures former President Hassan Rouhani warmly shaking hands with FIFA referee Alireza Faghani as Iran’s national team prepared to depart for the Russia 2018 World Cup.
According to Saed News, the image—taken during Hassan Rouhani’s presidency—shows the Iranian leader meeting with members of the national football squad and officiating star Alireza Faghani moments before their departure for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The candid snapshot underscores the interplay between sports and statecraft in Iran, where football often serves as a bridge between domestic audiences and international engagement.
Alireza Faghani, renowned for refereeing the 2018 World Cup final, stands beside Rouhani in the photograph, both figures smiling against a backdrop of team colours and a banner marking Iran’s qualification. Presidential aides recall that Rouhani personally wished the squad and officials “success on the world stage,” highlighting sport’s unifying power amid regional tensions.
Analysts say the meeting reflected Tehran’s broader strategy of leveraging high‑profile sporting moments to project a more open, positive image abroad. “It was a symbolic gesture,” one sports diplomat told Saed News. “A demonstration that, beyond politics, Iran shares the global passion for football.”
The photograph’s release has sparked nostalgia among fans, many of whom viewed Rouhani’s visible support as a morale boost for both players and referees ahead of a tournament that would capture worldwide attention.
