1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC–OFC play-off)
| Event | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||
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| 3–3 on aggregate, Iran won on away goals | |||||||
| First leg | |||||||
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| Date | 22 November 1997 | ||||||
| Venue | Azadi Stadium, Tehran | ||||||
| Referee | Pierluigi Pairetto (Italy) | ||||||
| Attendance | 128,000 | ||||||
| Second leg | |||||||
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| Date | 29 November 1997 | ||||||
| Venue | MCG, Melbourne | ||||||
| Referee | Sándor Puhl (Hungary) | ||||||
| Attendance | 98,000 | ||||||
The 1998 FIFA World Cup AFC–OFC qualification play-off was a two-legged home-and-away tie between the winners of the Oceania qualifying tournament, Australia, and the losing team in the AFC play-off from the Asian qualifying tournament, Iran. The games were played on 22 and 29 November 1997 in Tehran and Melbourne respectively. Australia was hoping to play in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974 and Iran in 1978.
Prior to arrival in Tehran, Terry Venables and others involved in the Australian national team had made negative comments about Iran, stating it as being dangerous, and going so far as to bring their own drinking water for their stay.
The first leg of the play-off, on 22 November 1997, took place in Tehran, Iran, with the result a 1–1 draw. Attendance for this match was extremely high, as 128,000 fans packed Azadi Stadium, despite it only having a capacity for 100,000 fans at the time.
Full of confidence after this result, the Australian team came to the second leg in Melbourne believing they could progress to their first FIFA World Cup in 24 years.
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