Iran’s world cup matches attracted vast, enthusiastic audiences such that over 90,000 tickets were sold at box offices across the country, Cinematicket.org reported.
Over 70% of the movie theaters screening Iran’s football matches were in Tehran and almost all of the available tickets were sold out for the games.
Iran’s last group fixture against Portugal, in which Team Melli had the chance to advance to the second round for the first time in the country’s history, was screened at nearly 80 movie theaters selling over 30,000 tickets and earning over 5 billion rials ($11,9047), Financial Tribune reported.
Iran’s world cup opener against Morocco, which ended in a historic victory for Iran marking the country’s second win in World Cup history after their famous win against the US 20 years ago at the 1998 World Cup in France, was screened at 75 cinemas while Team Melli’s second match against Spain was screened at 90 cinemas.
Notably, the Iran-Portugal match was also screened at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium and around 20,000 tickets were sold online for this game via Cinematicket.
There are plans to screen the two semifinal games as well as the final match of the world cup in Iranian cinemas.