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Iranians protesting against the country's government gather in Vienna outside the stadium hosting Iran v Senegal
Iran are England's opening opponents at the World Cup

Iran is playing a game against a team from Africa in Austria. The referee blows the final whistle and it's a good result, but the crowd is not happy.

The players and coaching staff are not happy. The Iranian fans are not inside the stadium.

They were prevented from entering the stadium by the Iranian authorities, but still managed to make their voices heard through megaphones and loud speakers outside. The match was broadcasted on Iranian state TV.

Since mid-September, life in Iran has been dominated by a wave of dramatic anti-government protests that has evolved into the most significant challenge to the Islamic republic in over a decade.

The death of a woman who was being held by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating their strict hijab rules sparked the protests.

They were chanting "Say her name" outside.

Iran does not want people to hear it at the World Cup. Everyone will be watching, but it's not clear how fans or players will act.

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The young Kurdish woman was from Saqqez, Iran. She was in a coma for three days before she died.

She was arrested by Iran's morality police after they accused her of violating a law requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab and their arms and legs with loose clothing.

According to reports, officers beat Amini with a baton and banged her head against a vehicle. She died of sudden heart failure, the authorities said. Her family said she was in good shape.

Amini's death made people angry. Women taking off their hijabs and chanting against the government at her funeral. Videos of the event were posted on social media and people reacted quickly. A platform has been provided by sport.

At the Asian Championships in South Korea, Elnaz Rekabi competed without her hijab. She was greeted at the airport by thousands of people.

She said she had competed without her hair covering. The language used in her post made it look like it was written under pressure.

Football is the most popular sport in the country and it is where people want to show their support for the protests. Major figures have joined the effort.

The leader of the opposition movement is a former Iran football player named Ali Karimi. Ali Daei, Iran's record scorer and a legend in the country, has shown his support.

Iran's players posted social media messages in support of the protests even though they were told not to. One of the few social media networks allowed to operate in Iran is that of the star player of the team, Sardar Azmoun.

Players in the Iranian league refuse to celebrate their goals. The scorer will usually bring their hands down after the ball crosses the line to remind those watching what's happening in the country. 341 people have died in the protests, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. 39 security personnel died.

State TV shows the players of the team that conceded instead of the team that scored.

The Esteghlal FC players did not celebrate when they won the Super Cup. If there were no fireworks and no music, they wouldn't participate in the ceremony. State TV stopped showing those pictures.

Since the protests began, all Iranian league games have been played in secret. Iran's authorities think fans could be a security threat.

Iranian beach football player Saeed Piramoon pretends to cut his hair
Piramoon's gesture mirrored the actions of women who have cut their hair at public protests

A gesture that has become a symbolic reference to the protests at which some women have been filmed cutting their hair in public was made by an Iranian soccer player at the Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup. The team beat Brazil in the final, but there were no celebrations.

Iran's basketball, beach soccer, volleyball and water polo teams have decided not to sing the national anthem.

The men's national football team will be watched a lot. In their final match before the World Cup, many players refused to sing the national anthem, with the exception of two who supported the regime.

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The build-up to the World Cup for Iran and its football fans is charged with a lot of activity. If Iran's players refuse to sing the national anthem in front of the cameras, what will happen? If they score, what will they do?

The draw is amazing.

Iran will face the USA, England and Wales, countries it counts among its arch enemies.

When Iran defeated the USA in the group stages of the 1998 World Cup in France, their first ever win at the tournament, there was enormous national pride in the country.

What would Iran fans think about a similar result in the Middle East? There are many who feel torn. They don't know if cheering for the team means betraying the protesters.

How Mahsa Amini became a symbol of defiance in Iran