In a commentary Vatan-e Emrooz addressed the happiness of a very small percentage of people after the failure of the Iranian national football team against the American team.

"The World Cup is over for us. Our longing to advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup continued and we must wait for the brilliance of our country's national football team in the 2026 World Cup,” it said.

“But what happened in recent days and was recorded in the history of Iran, and of course will not be erased from the historical memory of the Iranian people, was the statelessness of rioters. The behavior of these homeless mobs, showed their true nature after the defeats of our country’s national football team against England and America,” the conservative paper added.

“Contrary to the claims made by these mobs about patriotism, they have no conception of homeland and national pride, and of course, zeal and honor, are not important to them at all. The patriotism of this minority during the World Cup competitions showed their clear opposition to the majority of Iranian society, who are famous for their patriotism and zeal.”

The newspaper added, “It showed that Masih Alinejad, Hamed Esmailiyoun, Sima Sabet and others, not only have not benefited from honor and patriotism, but use all their efforts for their anti-Irani projects,” the report said.

Kayhan: Football reason for unity

In its editorial, Kayhan also analyzed political aspects of Iran’s participation in the World Cup and wrote, “Although the national football team of our country handed over the game to the opponent team and the people were upset, maybe no one ever imagined that football should become an indicator to recognize true patriots and distinguish them from traitors.

But football did this for us. The false claimants of patriotism, who worked hard to make Iran and Iranians lose in all fields, including football, first took action to boycott the Iranian football team and block its entry into the World Cup, while finally got to celebrate the defeat of the national team and feel proud!

Although we failed in the last game, we still remained proud as the joy of the victory against Wales made our enemies nervous, this unhappiness also annoyed the enemies of the nation…. Iran still remains Kurds, Turks, Lors, Baluchs, Persians, Arabs, etc. We all prayed together, maybe we cried, but we remained united.”

Etemad: Flexible management to neutralize enmities

In a note Etemad reported that the country’s condition requires a flexible management to neutralize malicious words of foreign enemies and the anti-Iran resolutions of the parliaments of European and American countries.

A powerful and integrated nation, and at the same time fresh, productive, and unified, with the religious democratic approach coupled with characteristics of morality, purity and patriotism, should remain in the great land of history-making Iran, the author wrote.

The reformist newspaper further suggested that a society should be made in which people are free to make criticism but avoid undermining each other. 

Farhikhtegan: Football in most political state

Focusing on national reactions to football and the World Cup, the conservative Farhikhtegan newspaper wrote that football is in its most political state.

Football has become politics and this is a fact regardless of “our value-judgment”. Some have welcomed it and said that politics, which was latent and hidden, has become a public and social matter through football, although they probably did not see the other side of the story.

The popularization of politics through football is a “double-edged sword”. 

The extra burden on football affects both itself and politics; football as a national matter can have a social effect, which is to gather different tastes around a more general logic as nationality.

Sharq: The cabinet reform required

In a report, the reformist Sharq newspaper discussed the need to reshuffle the cabinet through the Majlis [Parliament].

“It seems that these days it has been revealed to a great extent that economic problems can cause citizens’ unhappiness. It is expected from parliament members and the government to listen to the demands and formulate effective strategies to solve the problems.

Repairing and reforming the cabinet from the viewpoint of experts can be one of these strategies, rather than moving a minister from one seat to another with the so-called armchair playing of forces and claiming a repair! We had a conversation with some representatives to explain this issue further.”

Iran: Hybrid war intended to cause “frustration”

In a detailed report the pro-government Iran newspaper discussed the scenario of a combined war against the Islamic Republic and stated that disillusioning the society is the main goal and strategy of this war, and in the end, the report suggests a method to counter the problem.

“The Leader of the Islamic Revolution in his statement mentioned the very important keyword “disappointment” and called the first and most radical jihad to fight against this. But what should be done against this widespread and insidious invasion of ‘despair’? 
You, young people, must be pioneers in breaking this propaganda. Cultivate hope for the future in yourself and others. Drive away fear and despair from yourself and others. But for this grand strategy to be implemented, a road map must be developed by the youth and the country’s officials.

What can be suggested to the youth here is the use of ‘spontaneous popular movements’. This type of movement does not require the will of anybody or official. The pressure of public opinion is one of the best tools to advance goals. Spontaneous movements of the people to prevent the creeping and dangerous current of subversion and infiltration made the public aware. But what can be suggested to the authorities is to use the experiences of other countries in this field…, because these countries themselves are much more aware of the danger of this type of movement than the countries that plan to subvert.”