Two arrested Iranian players released ahead of USA World Cup game
Arrested Iranian player Voria Ghafouri was released ahead of USA game
Iran, on Tuesday, released its two arrested players in connection with ongoing protests in the country ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2022 match against the USA. Parviz Boroumand, a retired goalkeeper, and Voria Ghafouri were the two players who got arrested for participating in the biggest protests against Iran's ruling clerics since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The announcement had come hours before the start of Iran’s third group game against the USA at Al Thumama Stadium. As reported by thestate-linked media, Parviz Boroumand, a retired goalkeeper, was jailed on charges of damaging property and also for participating in the protests in Tehran while Voria Ghafouri was arrested last week for “insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government."
ALSO READ:Fireworks as Iran Kurdistan protesters celebrate USA's FIFA World Cup group stage victory
Ghafouri, who is also the captain of the Persian Gulf Pro League club, Foolad wasn’t picked for the FIFA World Cup 2022. For a long time, Ghafouri had been quite vocal against the Iranian authorities, objecting to their longstanding ban on women fans at men’s football games, as well as on Iran’s confrontational foreign policy that has led to Western sanctions. Even recently only, the right-back showed sympathy for a family of a 22-year-old woman, who died while being in the custody of Iran’s morality police – something that ignited the latest protests in the country. Other than these, Ghafouri also raised his voice to end the violent protests in Iran's western Kurdistan region.
The USA beat Iran to advance to knockouts
The USA became the second team after England in Group B to advance to the knockout stages after they defeated Iran 1-0 in the final group game on Tuesday. Star winger Christian Pulisic scored the only goal in the 38th minute to hand his team the much-required win. Team USA will now face the Netherlands in the Round-of-16 match.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
