Full Game: Socceroos v Iran in 1997 FIFA World Cup Play-Off

To appreciate how far we’ve come, we have to learn, remember and appreciate what we’ve gone through.
Via the Socceroos Supporters Surveys (www.socceroos.com.au/fans-sur..., the fans have requested to relive the 1997 FIFA World Cup Play-Off second leg v Iran.
So, to mark 23 years since the match, the Socceroos digital channels will show the full game on Sunday, 29 November from 7pm AEDT.
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[@sanmicheal6754]

I'm Korean and I was 11 years old at the time. I think Iran's attack was the strongest in Asia at the time. I was unlucky for the ability they had. In fact, I didn't expect Iran to fall into the playoffs. I was rooting for Iran's victory as the same Asian and they won nicely. I still remember Alidaei(No10) , Bagheri(No6), Azizi(No11),mahdavikia(No2)

[@Iraqi0505]

I'm from Iraq 🇮🇶 and I remember that a great match, It's a credible match. I felt so happy when Iranian team scored the second goal by Azizi

[@rezak9121]

الله یسلمک حبیبی الغالی. فوزنا فوزکم. ماکو فرق ❤️

[@iranteammelli2709]

Thank you brother

[@Mhjeffrey027running]

RIP Paul Williams (match commentator) and his partner in the box Johnny Warren.

[@Set_Get]

did anything happened to them? I always had a high opinion of them particularly Jonny Warren. after years of returning back to Iran i still remenber their faces and again particularly that of Jonny. They registered as good poeple with me.

[@mehdimoradi1793]

@@Set_Get All three commentators in this video (Johnny, Paul and Liz), have passed away now. Their role was very significant in the recognition and development of football (the real soccer) in Australia. All football fans miss them dearly. God bless their soul and RIP. From Iran.

[@nimaabachianghasemi1378]

Really ? RIP .🙁

[@shahramfoladi]

Rest In Peace champ’s ❤❤❤

[@ramingolbang2417]

I remember when Azizi scored the equalizer, I jumped so high I was afraid that my head would hit the ceiling! Excellent picture quality .

[@hamala7437]

after this event, the kangaroos wanted to revenge, annnnnd since this elimination, both team never met in any AFC events nor a game anywhere elsewhere in the continent.

[@hamedrahmani9925]

I met Azizi when he played in the MLS for the earthquakes at a few different mehmoonis in san jose...nice guy but boy oh boy was he a shamless flirt, he would flirt openly and obviously with every wife at the mehmoonis 😂😅

[@iranteammelli2709]

@@hamala7437they took their Revenge in Asian cup 2015 by Benjamin Williams the Refree of Iran & Iraq Match with that unfair Red Card

[@iranteammelli2709]

@@hamala7437 they took their Revenge in dirty way in Asian cup 2015 by Benjamin Williams the Australian Refree of Iran & Iraq Match with that unfair Red Card

[@rofl315]

I was a fifth-grader in Tehran when this match was played. Iran was absolutely shell-shocked in the first 60 minutes of the game. That night, Australia were playing some of their best football and Iran some of their worst. When the pitch invader tore up the Iranian net, I went to the kitchen to have some water. My mother was washing the dishes and saw the disgust in my face. She told me to have hope. I told her there's no chance in hell that we would bounce back from this. "Have hope!", she repeated. And the rest is history. I was absolutely thrilled for my country, but even at that young age I felt somewhat guilty for Australian fans. I could easily put myself in their shoes. But I guess that's what international football is all about: one nation's sorrow becomes another nation's joy.

[@mohammedhasan7364]

i m originally from fiji and migrated to australia .this was one match i was glued to tv .it was hard to watch iran lose until the first goal .i remember putiing the volume up of the tv the second goal was the best thing i had ever witnessed .it was joy although i did feel sorry for my adopted nation .now i only go for australia .but what a game that was

[@rusty083]

Those are the swings and round-abouts of football. What Iran did to us that night, we did to Japan in Germany in 2006. I consider Iran our greatest football nemesis however truthfully want them to do well in the world cup because they are our allies in the Asian confederation.

[@faradpack]

I watched this on big screen at the University of Tehran. Best game Australia 🇦🇺 played ever. Except for 5 minutes. The magic of Azizi got them. If you notice the first goal also was created by his talent. He also scored in Tehran.

[@kamilebrahimoff3589]

True, but Australians were a**holes in the treating of the opponent. They played Iran like this country does not know how to play football. One of the best Asian football team.

[@frombrosis]

As a young teenager in Australia this broke me, cried myself to sleep that night... we were so close we could touch the World Cup. Forever will haunt us Australians this match, but like the video description says, we have to remember what we've gone through. Well done to Iran, they never gave up, a class team.

[@hamedrahmani9925]

I'm iranian-american, born in the states, and I wasn't able to watch it on TV and was listening to a european-based exiled iranian radio station give the play by play on this special radio set tuned to pick up the broadcast....it was late at night and after it was 2-0 I turned off the radio, despondent and hopeless, and silently weeped, about an hour later I said "eff it" and turned on the radio again to hear Iran had tied it 2-2!!! It was one of the sweetest moments of my youth that in my teen years was full of abuse and neglect...I'm sorry you felt the way you did about your beloved team falling to my team and I hope it was countered by pleasant memories of your own youth...love and respect from me man!!!

[@yousef2508]

I'm sorry buddy. Back then I was 14. We heard that Australian football federation call Iranians "the wilds" or something. Australian spectators booed Iranian anthem. And one of them threw our net apart. But Iranian team responded all these bad behaviour, respectfully in the field. Now I'm 40, living in Canada, and I definitely can feel the pain any Aussi teenager have been through. I wish there was a way for both great teams to qualify. The me, the only thing that matters is having a friendly competition, like what Klopp and pep had.

[@cryptonite4467]

Best day of my life as a child

[@cryptonite4467]

RIP Mehrdad Minavand

[@warwickcathro2650]

Rarely does one sporting event change a life but this one changed mine. I was there that night in 1997 with my stepson Chris. An undeserved disaster for Australia, but unforgettable in its drama. With all due respect to the team of 2006, this was the best Socceroos team ever.

[@rolijuliano4472]

I’m Iranian, and I was in my Grandparents villa and no one even most optimistic Iranian expected qualifying . Australia lineup filled up with great players and Stars and Iranian players were a bunch of inexperienced young players. it was like a miracle for us. Streets were exploded , we were dancing in yard with my cousins then went in street and my grandparents danced, Iranian society was really conservative those days and it was my first time that I saw their dancing, Unfortunately my Grandpa passed away in 2019 and my Grandma just passed away two days ago

[@arashrafiee]

This match never dies.

[@hoobarz1431]

من اون موقع راهنمایی بودم از مدرسه تعطیل شدیم اومدیم فوتبال نگاه کردیم بعد از این همه سال هنوز تمام صحنه ها رو دقیق یادمه عابدزاده تو این بازی فوق العاده بود با این وجود که همه ترسیده بودیم ولی خیلی روحیه میداد

[@dionrinaldo9668]

Heartbreaking but made 2006 that much sweeter

[@troyps7]

I was a teenager when I saw this live. It was literally a historical day in Iran. We went out and celebrated in the streets for hours after the game. It felt like the whole country was out celebrating.

[@mojtabadousti4535]

God belass iran always thanks boys many aprisiated 🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@aliwizard6388]

بهترین و خاطره انگیزترین روز ما مردم ایران✌

[@farzadshiri]

I love the last 30 minutes

[@maryamezzat201]

Me too

[@user-tt4hh2ry4s]

I still can’t believe that what really happened

[@Master-ne2rb]

Still a fun game to watch. I like it when the announcer says we are well in France now after Australia's second goal.

[@saeedpirozi6231]

My father was a coach and a good football player in Iran When this game was held, my father was in the hospital due to the injuries caused by the chemical bombs of the war. Iran won the game and my father was very happy. 3 days later, my father passed away and did not see the World Cup😢

[@RGS1360]

I watched this game when I was 16 years old, I was in year eleven in Iran and I used to play for my city under 17 and I was so involved in football that time I don’t turn up to my chemistry exam because of this match and I was watching in black and white tv Never forget that moment created by Iran

[@RGS1360]

There is one saying if you don’t capitalise your chances, you might get punished at the end of the match that’s exactly what happened on that game

[@amirthehammer240]

Great match. Physical game, very different from today's matches where the players drop like flies. Both teams played their hearts out.

[@kamboozia]

Without doubt one of the finest FIFA classics of all time. This match defined a significant benchmark for the professional football of both Nations as they benefited highly on fundamentals and further development of the game after it. A historical but timeless event and was beginning to a new era indeed. Thanks for making it available to public viewers. Image quality is immaculate. ❤🤍💚 ⚽️ 💛💚

[@christopherflyger2284]

First game of live football and hooked ever since.

[@Dr.UldenWascht]

Thank you for uploading this. Watched this live as a young boy and was always curious how the other side commentated and felt about the game. Also 7:55 this one-handed save was a running gag and meme in our country for a long while ... even before the word "meme" was a thing 😄 And the goalkeeper 'Abedzadeh' was not a free-kick specialist in anyway; what the commentator said about using him as one and comparing him to Chilavert was pure fiction 😅

[@vouhuman2030]

Not really. Abedzadeh was a free-kick especialist. Everyone in Iran knows this. I used to watch his games when I was a kid.

[@Rizemize123]

35:02 Australia goal 1-0 54:15 Australia goal 2-0 1:22:40 Iran goal 1-2 1:26:30 Iran goal 2-2 At 1:27:22 Austalian number 11 knew it that's a goal before Azizi touched the ball.

[@deepdisco1]

‏‪1:27:28‬‏

[@Boom85Boom]

I cried like a baby after we lost that one. Still hurts

[@peterkehoe481]

Yep same. 26 years later and still hurts to the core.

[@Kizrok69]

Still hurts

[@behnam289]

Iran🥰😍🙂

[@behnam289]

Hi from Iran🙂😍🥰

[@behnam289]

@@Kizrok69 hi from iran🙂😍🥰

[@Kave2534]

Iranian never forgot that match I really respect Australia 🇦🇺 player and people but that’s our turn to go World Cup I was 16 years old I really love that memories.....

[@nath-wp7xp]

Is the Iranian manager smoking on the sidelines? Wow times have changed.

[@Dr.UldenWascht]

Not only that! When Iran scored their second, the Brazilian Valdier Viera 1:26:53 went back and picked up his already discarded cigarette from the ground and continued smoking! What a chad 😂

[@zetsu1915]

That still happened till 2005 i think , i watched my country local league back then , its still allowed , maybe until 2005/2006

[@Set_Get]

You can see some spectators smoking too! Particularly, a lady clearly seen doing so.

[@MrBusinessG]

What a great Match. 23 years later....and still as sweet as ever.

[@hadidalari8035]

اون روز من ۱۷ سالم بود خیلی خوب استرالیا ی بی ادب و رو سر جاشون نشوندیم . درود صد درود به ایران ایرانی❤❤❤

[@mshossen5263]

What a come back!!!

[@raminghanbarisaisan6264]

I remembered this game very well. I was in year 11 in Iran before migrating to Australia..I never thought I will be living in Australia one day on that time no chance.. Iran qualified to the World Cup in away goal but I really felt for Australian fans because football can be sometimes cruel

[@joaofelipe5470]

I am Brazilian, and I like Iran, Save Iranian Soccer and Australian Soccer........ The Manager in Iran Team was a Brazilian Badu Vieira ! Azizi ( Jackie Chan rsrsrs ) was a big player, Iran Soccer Team went to France World Cup 1998 ! 🇧🇷🇮🇷❤️👏

[@shoreshkakavand41]

Best life of my life in melbourne.grat iran .great players.

[@Mehrdad1969]

It seems that was yesterday that I saw this game live! I've seen several highlights and reports from this game during these years, For sure we know the result! but still when I see the game from the first I'm not sure that Iran can go through at the end of the game !!!! It was just unbelievable Thanks so much for sharing with this high quality.

[@Topolab]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@TheTimussh]

R.I.P. Sándor Puhl (referee)

[@hamedrahmani9925]

Crazy knowing all 3 aussie commentators, the ref, Iran's coach, and minavand the iranian player (covid got him) are all dead...any others I might have missed? RIP to everyone I listed ❤🕳🫂

[@moeduroodchi2161]

Amazing how one can gather so much about a culture by watching a game and listening to the commentary !

[@plato2030]

We were stuck in celebration traffic jam after the game until 3 am. What a night in tehran.

[@fahadak8314]

Thanks For Uploading This Video 🔥🔥👍👍

[@joesakic91]

16 years after their epic AFC-OFC inter-confederational play-off encounter, both Australia and Iran automatically qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup together. And those two did it again for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

[@shubham8559]

And again fr 2022

[@joesakic91]

@@shubham8559 Yes even though both Iran and Australia had different routes to get to Qatar. Team Melli won their group and automatically qualified while the Socceroos needed to outlast Peru in a shootout during the AFC-CONMEBOL inter-confederation play-off.

[@danielgregory8588]

Why this game.. never again. never again.

[@samuelj2408]

Thank you for this 1080 p HD quality upload.

[@vouhuman2030]

According to Persian mythology, Iranians are guided and protected by "Farr(ah) Izadi" (God's light). The game reminds me of the "Farr Izadi" which still works whenever needed. God bless Iran. God bless Iranians.

[@melbournemarvels]

So, why have you never got past the first round of the World Cup then? Is God forsaking you?

[@vouhuman2030]

@@melbournemarvels Thanks for your reply. I wish you paid more attention to the word "mythology" I mentioned.

[@Romans8-9]

@@vouhuman2030 Yes you said "mythology" that "works whenever needed." You can´t have it both ways. By the way, there is only one God, the triune Godhead of Jesus, Yahweh and the Holy Spirit.

[@abdolsamadghalavand9451]

Never ever forget this day 💜💋💞🧿🙏🏼

[@hkaka6029]

24 years on and this is still such A wach able game in every sense and it will be still A such wach able game for many years to come !!!

[@kaveazadmard5237]

The key of this play bring tahami number 18 by viera in secomd half.this change open austalia defender and australia defender can't stop tahami and azizi.

[@ardalan1181]

The funny thing is Iran fired the Brazillina coach of this game when they advanced to world cup ! And replaced with an Iranian coach who had no say on the whole tournament!!

[@Mottaqian]

You may not believe it but it was the happiest day Iranians ever experienced in their lives after the disastrous Islamic revolution in 1979. I also wonder how is the person holding the photo of Mullahs in the stand (1:27:00) is feeling about them now.

[@Set_Get]

I was there in the spectators stand watching this match. And you better talk for yourself and your Ammeh.

[@persiansroundworld]

Thank god there was no VAR back then, otherwise our 1st goal would've been called offside :D

[@samuelj2408]

When Azizi Scored that second goal the entire nation of Iran jumped for joy and celebrated simultaneously in that moment in time, and then we patiently and harrowingly waited for EVERY single second to pass for the game to end, it was arguably the first time in the past 20 or so tumultuous years of the new post revolution Iran that the entire nation experienced pure, innocent and harmonious happiness across its entire nation regardless of political, economical and societal classes, people poured into the streets in celebration en masse and danced and partied in the streets.

[@hadighadmgahi2701]

من کلاس دوم راهنمایی بودم بعد ظهر زودتر تعطیل کردن مدرسه رو برای فوتبال ...بی شک احمد رضا عابدزاده بهترین بود❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@LionZebra]

Neither team back then had any notion of passing or possession. All wild kicks and Hail Mary lobs hoping it lands in the right place around a teammate!

[@hamedrahmani9925]

Seriously. No positional play, no tactics, just pure pandemonium on the pitch...no wonder it was such a wide open game. Australia had like 5 ridiculous chances in the first 5 minutes. Just complete anarchy on the pitch.

[@barkslife]

I was 13 when this happened. Such a night of mixed emotions. I come from an immigrant family, and Australia weren't relevant as a football side growing up, which is why I have supported Germany first my whole life, but I was pretty devo about this one. I was sure that we'd done enough, and then we had to go through the whole Uruguay thing 4 years later. The game against Japan on 2006 made up for it, though. Probably the strongest Australian side of all time in that World Cup, and could have gone much further - that penalty vs. Italy though... 🙃

[@HajNaser313]

وای یادش بخیر کنار پدرم بازی میدیدم بچه بودم 🇮🇷🇦🇫💪👌

[@marze904]

Wow! What a match

[@Abbaskip]

Azizi clearly offside for the first goal. Literally laying on the ground in front of the ball and all defenders.

[@a3b9w65]

Amazing a players of Iran

[@AydinTebyanian]

Watched this game as a 12 year old kid in Iran who was 4 months from migrating to Australia forever. So many emotions

[@robcolonnello2945]

Needed Iran's coach interview post match!

[@rezakarbaschian]

One of the most dramatic matches of all time.

[@pcorf]

Australia choked that night, well in a 5 minute period. This heartbreak was worth it in the end as they have come a very long way since.

[@ajshirvan7464]

Unbelievable comeback!

[@orinocoplay1876]

This is the first time I hear the aussie commentator version. They begin to humiliate Iranian team from minute 1 of the game by saying ok now the score should be 5 to nothing... this is the first time they touch the ball... they waste time! I'm so glad that Iran won that game rather than these selfish people.

[@sizib9182]

I remember every second of it.

[@PrinceOfParthia74]

this game should have been 5-0 6-0 for australia and if repeated for 100 times there still would not end with an outcome favorable for iran. i'm not complaining as an iranian, but you just should not be able to go to the world cup with your last 6 qualification games being lost or drawn, that's insane.

[@user-tn4pt2yv7z]

Iran and Australia have only played each other once

[@mortezanazar5967]

no thats not true they play each other 6 times twice on 74 WC twice on 78 and twice on 98 Australia won 74 and Iran won 78 and 98

[@gumdeo]

That Aussie XI was really strong!

[@amortyn4756]

Socceroos were So dominant that night! & atmosphere at MCG was incredible. It is Crazy they didn’t win the game. So many chances… Then at the death, why on earth play the offside trap and get caught out?? Crazy tactics from Venables late in the game. :(

[@Kizrok69]

As a Aussie you have to pay Ali Daei ball. That was world class

[@moeduroodchi2161]

IRANIANS defense in disarray. Refree was nice,.... to the home crowd.

[@moeduroodchi2161]

In the 1973 match the Iranian team was given foul food and all suffered food poisoning and colds from freezing hotel rooms. 😉

[@nasereslami3076]

Australia paid the price of their fans hooliganism and haughty behaviour

[@Daninvietnam]

Haha please

[@pengo369]

Later years John Alohisi and then redmayne .. removing that curse John saffron i think did it :)

[@tommydarko1984]

I'm back here, too. How good was this Socceroos team. I miss these players.

[@henryjackson370]

One those classic but i remeber iranian national TV commentor starts the propeganda once that maniac started pissing. He was saying that australians asking : WHERE IS YOUR GOD ? can anyone who were there confirm if audiance were chanting that ? Not to ignore the Australian commentor doesnt even talk about it 😂

[@moeduroodchi2161]

Fast paced, PHYSICAL sloppy for the most part, AUS lucky not to lose, thank the Refrees from FIFA.

[@peymang]

Omg Iran won but the quality was so bad. They are so much better today.

[@samuelj2408]

57:34... "this is good for Austarlia because it gives them time to...for it all to sink in" only if this commentator knew what was the fate of this match... lol.

[@afsinlotfi9152]

نسل طلایی فوتبال ایران

[@crimsonnova5619]

why did Football Australia release this, we didn't win.

[@faradpack]

Azizi 3 Australia 🇦🇺 3 And Anedzadeh our keeper

[@user-cu3ng4ug5p]

이경기 봤음 아지지

[@pnayeri]

I see you removed my previous comment! Lol 😂 I guess it still hurts after all these years!

[@amirmahdinaderfar6500]

Iran was better than Australia and in end won 🏆🇮🇷

[@1969cmp]

1-1 in the first leg, 2-2 in the second. Sounds equal but someone has to go through hense the away rule.

[@pengo369]

It wasn't good for Australia as we lost momentum.

[@dongminchoi299]

The away goals should be abolished.

[@sturmtheguitarist]

We would have won if Ivanovic had started instead of Horvat

[@zackvampetarapidkl6232]

85000 fans was in the stadium

[@ORTEGA-sd3bv]

94 امام الارجنتين 98 امام ايران 02 امام الارواغواي

[@Daninvietnam]

Then qualified ever since

[@rezamkia2338]

RIP mr viera, the past head coach of iranian side.

[@planetx1595]

Also, RIP Terry Venables, the past head coach of the Australian side

[@life.with.shangool]

😍🥰

[@a3b9w65]

Great math

[@MrRodzilla]

my recommendation is to not appeal for offside while the Iran player is still onside

[@angelswings7024]

The away goal rule really sucks back then. Thank goodness FIFA changed the rules a bit to make it fairer for all parties involved (I don't know since when, but it helped).

[@Alex-cass]

It hasn’t changed tho

[@maryamezzat201]

Viva Iran 🇮🇷

[@zistland3954]

وقتی بازی تیم ایران با تکنیک تیم الان مقایسه میکنی، مثل بازیکنان های زمین خاکی با بازیکنان های حرفه ای. تنها عابد زاده بود که یکم حرفه ای بود بقیه فقط رژه میرفتن چپ و راست و اصلا انگار نمیدونستن فوتبال یعنی چی. یک توپم نتونستن نگه دارن. تنها تفاوت مثبتش نسبت به الان اینکه با تعصب بازی میکردن و به هیچ وجه حتی نزدیک به سطح نرمال فوتبال هم نبودند. یعنی عملا ایران گند زد به بازی و منصفانه باید گفت حق استرالیا بود ببره نه ایران.

[@Revelian1982]

I remember watching this match with commentary from England, and it astonished me how rude the commentators were. Incredibly biased, to the point it almost seemed racist.

[@Daninvietnam]

Racist? Settle down snowflake

[@farzad.khodabandeh]

Australia was the worst host ever. they treated Iranians in the most disrespectful way. they showed they lesser culture to world. they said so much bad stuff about iran. but when game was in iran , iranian people showed they're high class culture

[@Daninvietnam]

Stfu bro, sound like a woman.

[@luketory4684]

Hopfully time travel will be possible in the next 50 years

[@captaineagle1563]

Honestly roughly 24 years has gone past that symbolically miraculous night of landmark victory our most decorative football team which has ever existed to represent our proud history in football and how we remember it has definitely ledt in our long lasting memory given the fact the comeback was beyond our reality forever as Australia was way more superior and brilliant from a technical, tactical and team cohesion perspective that should have won this game against iran, but we went through ultimately. However the starkest evidence of this unforgettable night has proven to be a major highlight of negative perception in which has defined a series of irrational behaviors committed by majority of Australian public affairs against Iranian team the whole time our team was there for no reason. The extent of discrimination and humiliation shown by aussies against our players was truly unsportsmanlike, biased and significantly mistreated in every possible manner. Since then Australia national team was faded in the bright image of past history upon seeing a constant cycle of repeated failure to impress on a regional and global stages for a clear indication regarding how they missed out on 2022 World Cup while their performance has seem ti become fairly worse ever since winning AFC cup in 2015 potentially it could seen as a punishment for this disgraceful night

[@rubenugarte8999]

I blame Aurelio Vidmar....missing to absolute sitters. we should have won that game in the first 10 minutes... Hopeless