Iran regime’s false World Cup promises come crashing down

When Qatar won the race to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup more than 10 years ago, the neighbors of Doha began planning how to profit economically from this event. As is customary, Iranian officials began speaking of ambitious visions and dreams, but it soon became clear they were all pipe dreams, like a politician’s electoral promises.

Since Qatar won the bid, three Iranian presidents have held or come to power, namely Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hassan Rouhani and Ebrahim Raisi, all of whom stated on various occasions that Iran is prepared to help in organizing the World Cup. Rouhani reiterated Iran’s readiness to participate in the planned construction of infrastructure and facilities, as well as to provide Qatar with whatever it may need during the event in at least two phone calls with the emir. Raisi also stated that Iran was willing to provide any help to hold the event.

Though their remarks and promises were ambiguous, comments by deputy ministers and senior officials have revealed surprising details, such as Iran’s willingness to participate in hosting the event and even host some of the games on Iranian soil. Iranian officials also stated that football teams would be hosted on Iranian islands near Qatar, such as Kish Island, for training and friendly games. This is in addition to claims that Iran would attract 5 percent of World Cup fans, generating revenues worth nearly $500 million through hosting supporters from countries such as Mexico, Senegal and Ghana in Kish, while accommodating fans from Central Asia and Russia in northern Iran and then transporting them by buses to the south of the country before transporting them by boat to Qatar.

Other ambitious proposed projects included hosting fans from Islamic countries as part of a “halal tourism” program, starting low-cost tourist trips for Iranian football fans to Qatar, launching maritime routes and preparing ships to transport fans to and from Iran, along with many other promises.

A few weeks before the event kicked off, however, it became clear that all these promises were nothing but pipe dreams. According to the Iranian Hotel Companies Society, the number of airline tickets sold and rooms booked by Iranian fans is zero. Mohammed Mirzaei, an Iran-Qatar Chamber of Commerce board member, announced that Iran’s share in the World Cup tourism market is also zero. He also announced the cancellation of planned maritime journeys between Iran and Qatar.

As is routine, Iranian officials were ready with justifications for their failure to take advantage of this event. The Raisi government blamed its predecessor, with the current youth and sports minister accusing the Rouhani government of lethargy in carrying out its responsibilities, asserting that work should have begun years ago to achieve the desired result. Other government agencies have been accused of negligence. The CEO of the Kish Free Zone blamed the Ministry of Tourism for inadequate coordination with the Qataris.

Some officials have gone further, blaming Iran’s failure on the ongoing protests and accusing the protesters of causing the country to miss out on this opportunity to make economic profits from the event.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Iranian officials outperform all others in terms of rhetoric and making false promises. However, there is a startling disparity between Iran’s grand visions and its real track record of failures.

So, why do Iranian officials insist on continuing to come up with empty promises, which everyone knows will not be fulfilled? This is further evidence that some Iranian officials live in their own fantasy world, suffering from paranoia and delusions of invincible strength, despite their inability to comprehend the reality of events in Iran and around the world.

Twelve years was not enough time for the Iranian regime to entice even one World Cup fan among the hundreds of thousands planning to attend the event in Qatar.

One final important point also needs to be clarified. The Iranian football team’s participation in this event is totally different from past ones. In the past, the majority of Iranians at home and overseas used to wholeheartedly cheer on and ardently support their football team. In the 2022 World Cup tournament, however, a considerable proportion of Iranians have called for Iran’s exclusion from the World Cup, arguing that its participation serves nobody but the regime.

The refusal of three of the most famous former Iranian footballers to accept invitations from FIFA and the Qatar Football Association to attend the tournament in order to express their solidarity with Iranian protesters — who have been staging massive protests since mid-September over the killing of young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini by the regime’s so-called morality police — is the best case in point.

In conclusion, it seems that whatever the results of the 2022 World Cup, Iran’s regime will be the loser.