The majority of Iran’s players have sung the Islamic republic's national anthem ahead of this morning’s game against Wales.
Carlos Queiroz’s entire team remained silent during the playing of the anthem before Monday's defeat to England, leading to concerns around their safety as protests continue to rage across their homeland.
Supporters, several unable to fight back the tears, could again be seen waving flags with “women, life, freedom” written on them at Al Rayyan stadium this morning and there were loud boos as more than half of the starting XI could be seen singing - though not quite with the same vigor as their Welsh counterparts.
After his pre-match press conference yesterday, Queiroz accosted a journalist who asked captain Mehdi Taremi about the protests that have spread since the death of a 22-year-old woman in police custody who had been arrested for not wearing her hijab correctly.
The former Manchester United assistant claimed it was unfair to ask a player such politically-motivated questions and asked whether the journalist would ask Gareth Southgate about the British army sending troops to Afghanistan.
Demonstrations continue across Iran as a significant amount of the population demand freedoms for women following the death in custody of 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for not wearing her hijab correctly.
Hundreds of protestors have died and the government has voted in favour of using the death penalty to punish those who have taken to the streets.
Several members of the current Iran side have spoken out in support of the protestors, including Brentford’s Saman Ghoddos - despite fears of reprisals.
In an interview with Mirror Football before the tournament , Ghoddos said: “I don't want to mix politics with football but football is coming to the side right now, because people are losing their lives fighting for freedom.
“Clearly a change needs to come and it's already been going on for so long. We all want to change.
“If you think it’s the right thing to do, I think you should [speak out] because you’re a famous athlete. If you can put a light on what’s going on you should do it – with pressure or without pressure because it’s the right thing to do.
“It’s a change that is very easy. What the people want is nothing special, it’s just freedom. I don’t want to say ‘Yeah, go fight for it’ because I don’t think violence is the right way. But something has to change and this has been going on for too long."
Earlier this week Downing Street refused to rule out granting asylum to any member of the squad whose safety is in question following the World Cup.
