The biggest single culprit in Iran’s failure to advance to the knockout phase is a weird idiosyncracy to the offside law that has long outlived its usefulness.

The Pharaohs had learned before the game in Seattle that they were qualified due to results elsewhere, but Iran had a goal ruled out in stoppage time for offside

Iran missed a penalty, hit the crossbar, and had a late goal disallowed as they drew 1-1 with Egypt in a dramatic FIFA World Cup Group G match in Seattle.