Wales vs Iran live: World Cup score, highlights, result as VAR denies Gholizadeh

Wales will look to light up their 2022 World Cup campaign when they face Iran on Friday in Group B action. 

Gareth Bale salvaged a crucial point last time out against the USA, while Iran come into this match after being thrashed 6-2 by England. 

A win feels crucial for both teams if they want to progress to the knockout rounds, which makes for a high-stakes encounter at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, with England facing the US in today’s late kickoff, 

Can Wales claim their first World Cup victory since 1958 or will Iran bounce back from their England humbling? 

Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Wales vs Iran at the 2022 World Cup. Follow below for complete results from the Group A match in Qatar.

MORE: Wales vs. Iran betting tips, odds and our prediction

Wales vs Iran score

Goals:
None

Lineups:

Wales (3-5-2, right to left): 1. Hennessey (GK) — 5. Mepham, 6. Rodon, 4. B. Davies — 14. Roberts, 10. Ramsey, 15. Ampadu, 8. Wilson, 3. N. Williams — 11. Bale, 13. Moore.

Iran (4-4-2, right to left): 24. H. Hosseini (GK) — 23. Rezaeian, 19. M. Hosseini, 8. Pouraliganji, 5. Mohammadi — 17. Gholizadeh, 6 Ezatolahi, 21. Nourollahi, 3. Hajsafi — 9. Taremi, 20. Azmoun.

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Wales vs Iran live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

29th minute: Bale has been quiet so far but here he is, latching onto a Moore knockdown but he doesn’t make a clean connection. Hosseini unfussily mops up.

27th minute: Azmoun goes scampering through but Rodon makes a superb challenge to avert the danger. The Bayer Leverkusen forward is now receiving treatment, which is a big worry for Iran given he came into the tournament nursing a calf injury.

25th minute: Neco Williams needs a bit of treatment after a robust challenge from Rezaeian. He looks like he’ll be okay.

23rd minute: Midway through the half and Iran have a dangerous free-kick on 35 yards from goal. Azmoun gets up and heads wide of the left-hand post. This has been an absorbing contest so far, with both sides trying to impose themselves.

19th minute: All sorts of carry-on in the box. When Wilson eventually delivers, Hosseini gets up to punch clear.

17th minute: Sore one for Bale, who cops Mohammadi’s elbow to his jaw. Wales have a dangerous freekick on the byline near the right-hand edge of the Iran penalty area.

15th minute: Iran have the ball in the net! But it looks like Gholizadeh is offside when picked out by Azmoun to tap home. Huge let off for Roberts, who played a suicidal pass across his own half to let Iran in.

12th minute: Almost 1-0 to Wales! This time it’s the threat from the right, with Roberts delivering a delicious ball in. That man Moore is on the spot, meeting the cross on the volley but it’s too close to Hosseini. The Wales striker took a crack on the head for his troubles and will be back on after some treatment.

7th minute: Taremi and Azmoun link up nicely for the first time. The latter takes on the shot from outside the box, scuffs it and that’s easy work for Hennessey.

6th minute: But Iran can threaten from wide areas too. Mohammadi got forward from left-back and his cross, along with the follow up from Gholizadeh discomforted Wales.

2nd minute: There’s that wingback threat from Wales. Moore wins the long ball as he tends to. Possession falls to Williams, who cuts inside and whips a shot over from 25 yards.

5 mins from kickoff: Anthems time. My word, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is just magnificent. Gets you every time. You’d be ready to run through a wall.

Continuing their protests against the regime back home, Iran’s fans are once again booing their anthem. But when it concludes, they roar in support of their players, who need a big performance today.

10 mins from kickoff: Gareth Bale will become the most-capped Welsh male player in history today. It feels like another perfectly scripted moment for the former Real Madrid star. But this game could be decided in Bale’s old position. Iran were frankly horrible in wide defensive areas against England, with Kieran Trippier and Luke Shaw raiding forward to fine effect. Rob Page might well place onus on wingbacks Connor Roberts and Neco Williams to do some damage.

30 mins from kickoff: Azmoun’s return to the starting line-up is a huge boost for Iran. Wales will have to be on their guard against a special talent.

The best scenes of Sardar Azmoun so far 🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/Rqgplhbeeb

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) May 5, 2022

50 mins from kickoff: Much as Bale’s late equaliser against the USA was huge, that game did see Wales extend their winless run in all competitions to six matches. They have not tasted victory since the 1-0 playoff win over Ukraine to book their place in Qatar. You feel like they have to make sure that run ends today.

1hr 5 mins from kickoff: The big news for Iran is star forward Sardar Azmoun is fit to start after a lively cameo against England. Hossein Hosseini starts in goal as Alireza Beiranvand is sidelined with concussion.

1hr 15 mins from kickoff: The Wales team is in. Moore starts, Allen doesn’t.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇷 CYMRU XI

On or off the pitch, Together we are Stronger! #ArBenYByd | #FIFAWorldCup | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/kFM52YIdiR

— Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@Cymru) November 25, 2022

1hr 30 mins from kickoff: Now, for a quick word from Welsh education minister Gareth Bale…

It’s history in the making after all… so let’s just call it this week’s history lesson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿😉 #BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/z5K1C2XpPr

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 25, 2022

1 hr 40 mins from kickoff: Team news will be with us in a little over half an hour. Kieffer Moore is expected to start for Wales, offering a far more robust threat at the point of the attack to Dan James. The Bournemouth striker completely changed the complexion of the contest against the United States and he feels like an ominous opponent for a battered a bruised Iran backline.

2 hrs from kickoff: Will the hotter conditions in the early kickoff suit Iran in this crucial fixture for them?

Ready to go at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan for Wales v Iran. It’s 30 degrees here. The stadium AC is keeping us cool in the shade, but it’s hot in the sun. That’s got to suit Iran. pic.twitter.com/28BRt9koM9

— Andy Kerr (@AndyKerrtv) November 25, 2022

2 and a half hours from kickoff: Wales coach Rob Page was previously a very unknown name in the world of football, yet he has now led Wales to a last-16 appearance at the most recent Euros before breaking their World Cup drought. Find out more about the Welsh coach’s rise and record as manager in this article here.

3 hrs from kickoff: With just three hours to go before this crucial World Cup match, the excitement is starting to build. The Wales official Twitter page posted this video of the patriotic Welsh song ‘Yma O Hyd’ to get its fans in the mood for this match (not that the passionate Welsh fans need much motivating!)

✊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿#ArBenYByd | #TogetherStronger | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/YAHLjSZP53

— Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@Cymru) November 25, 2022

3 and a half hrs from kickoff: Want to know all the betting odds, predictions and best bets ahead of the first World Cup clash of the day? Look no further than The Sporting News betting preview here! It has all the information you need to get involved in today’s match.

4 hrs from kickoff: This is only the second ever meeting between these two countries, and the first ever in a competitive match.

The only other meeting occurred in 1978, when Wales defeated Iran 1-0 in an international friendly. Will we see a similar result today?

4 and a half hrs from kickoff: As we prepare for today’s match, let’s take a look at how Gareth Bale scored Wales’ first goal at the World Cup for 64 years against the USA:

“Can you handle the pressure, Gareth Bale? Absolutely.” 😂@RobertEarnshaw talks us through THAT Gareth Bale penalty 🔥

📺 Tune in to MOTD Wales on BBC One Wales to have a look back at a historic night for Welsh football ⚽️ #BBCFootball #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/JXKLftSj5t

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) November 21, 2022

5 hrs from kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of Wales vs. Iran. This a crucial game in Group A and Wales will be more confident than Iran of snatching a result based on their recent performances. 

🇮🇷 IR Iran have scored some memorable #FIFAWorldCup goals over the years 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Eh03M7pzv9

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 21, 2022

Wales vs Iran lineups, team news

Ethan Ampadu retains his place in midfield as another game comes too soon for Joe Allen to start, while Kieffer Moore is rewarded for his superb performance against the United States with a start ahead of Dan James. 

Wales (3-5-2, right to left): 1. Hennessey (GK) — 5. Mepham, 6. Rodon, 4. B. Davies — 14. Roberts, 10. Ramsey, 15. Ampadu, 8. Wilson, 3. N. Williams — 11. Bale, 13. Moore.

Iran’s first-choice goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand has been ruled out after being concussed in the 6-2 loss to England. Sardar Azmoun was only used as a substitute in that match but the Bayer Leverkusen star is fit to feature from kickoff.

Iran (4-4-2, right to left): 24. H. Hosseini (GK) — 23. Rezaeian, 19. M. Hosseini, 8. Pouraliganji, 5. Mohammadi — 17. Gholizadeh, 6 Ezatolahi, 21. Nourollahi, 3. Hajsafi — 9. Taremi, 20. Azmoun.

Wales vs. Iran live stream, TV channel

The match will take place at 1 p.m. local time at the Al Rayyan Stadium, which was built in 2003, has a capacity of almost 45,000 and is set in the historic rural district of Umm Al Afaei.

Watch the match on fuboTV in USA