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The Great Game: Iran vs USA

The behind-the scenes story of the events surrounding Iran vs USA, political foes and now opponents on the football pitch, at the 1998 World Cup.

In the 1998 World Cup, Iran and the USA came face to face in one of the most politically charged football matches in history. Relations between the two countries had been hostile for two decades.

Pressure on the players to prove themselves on the pitch was intense and would result in a thrilling game, watched by millions, but what isn't widely known are the stories behind the scenes: an al-Qaeda plot, the attempted sabotage of the game by an anti-Iranian government group, and an intervention by Iran's supreme leader that caused a headache for match officials.

In this film, we bring together the players, coaches, Fifa officials and the referee to hear their untold stories and emotions as they reflect on the match of their careers.

58 minutes

Last on

Sat 26 Nov 2022 23:50

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Natalie Pirks
Camera Operator David Wilkins
Camera Operator David Murphy
Production Manager Helga Farhadian
Producer Darius Bazargan
Director Darius Bazargan
Producer Pooria Jafereh
Editor Amanda Gunn
Executive Producer Jane Taylor

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