In a telephone conversation with Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalehnoei on Saturday evening, Raisi expressed gratitude to the national football team for their tireless efforts.
He also paid tribute to the national team’s players and coaching staff for bringing joy to the Iranian people, expressing hope that Iran would win the title in the games.
Iran, backed by their thousands of vociferous supporters, knocked out Japan on Saturday and earned a spot in the semifinals of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 with a 2-1 win at Education City Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
In a tournament that is now well-known for its late drama, Iran’s captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh delivered one of the most famous goals in his country’s Asian Cup history with a heart-in-mouths stoppage-time penalty that booked Team Melli a place in the second semifinal on Wednesday.