The highlight of this era—and one of the most iconic moments in Iranian football history—was the dramatic Iran-Australia qualification match in November 1997. Iran, trailing 2-0 in Melbourne, launched a miraculous comeback to draw 2-2 and qualify for the World Cup on away goals.
Mostafavi’s role in guiding the federation through the logistical, technical, and psychological challenges of the qualifying campaign was significant. He supported the team’s head coach, managed political pressures, and negotiated with international football authorities to ensure Iran’s path to France remained open despite numerous obstacles.
Political Interference and Controversial Dismissal
Despite this success, Mostafavi’s career at the federation came to an abrupt end. In later interviews, he alleged that President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami had personally ordered his dismissal, motivated by political pressures rather than footballing concerns. He claimed that Khatami wanted to replace him with Mohsen Safaei Farahani, a reformist politician and technocrat, signaling a shift in the federation’s leadership style.
