Iran-Israel War: Not Real Madrid, Barcelona or Man United - Iran and Israel footballers played Together at This Club!!

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The ongoing war between Iran and Israel, which began on June 13, 2025, has escalated tensions in the Middle East to unprecedented levels, casting a shadow over any prospects of unity or collaboration between the two nations.

Israel's surprise attack on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, followed by Iran's retaliatory missile strikes, has resulted in significant casualties and damage on both sides. According to Iranian state media, over 430 civilians have been killed and more than 3,000 injured in Iran, while an independent group reports a higher toll of 722 fatalities, including nearly 200 military personnel.

In Israel, Iranian missile strikes have killed at least 24 people and injured over 1,000, with notable attacks on cities like Haifa and Tel Aviv, including a strike on the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba that wounded 76. The United States has further intensified the conflict by striking three Iranian nuclear sites on June 22, 2025, prompting warnings from Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi against U.S. military involvement. Diplomatic efforts, including talks in Geneva and Istanbul, have failed to yield a ceasefire, and both sides continue to trade missile attacks, raising fears of a broader regional war.

Although sports brings things closer, amid this dire backdrop, the idea of Iranian and Israeli footballers playing together seems almost unimaginable. However, history offers rare instances where sport has transcended political divides.

Iran and Israel Players played together for Brighton

Although Iran and Israel players don't coincide often, it happened in 2018 for Brighton. The Seagulls had players from both these adversaries, and they co-existed and gelled well together!!

Setting aside the political tensions between their countries, an Iranian footballer Alireza Jahanbakhsh featured for Brighton in a pre-season friendly against OGC Nice, which the English club won 1-0. At that time, Brighton had also been home to Tomer Hemed, a Jewish Israeli, and Beram Kayal, an Arab Israeli.

Jahanbakhsh played till 2021 at Brighton, playing 61 times for the Seagulls. On the other hand, Hemed left in 2018 and on loan at QPR and then left the club permanently in 2019, after playing 108 times for them. Kayal played the 2018-19 season with Jahanbakhsh and left Brighton in 2019, after 131 appearances across all competitions.