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News Desk
Images circulating on social media claiming to show Iranian footballers praying on the pitch during the FIFA World Cup are AI-generated and misleading, according to fact-checking by AFP.
The viral images appear to show members of the Iran national team performing sujood (Islamic prostration) around a Quran placed on the pitch. However, visual analysis indicates clear inconsistencies typical of synthetic content, and the images have been flagged as AI-generated using OpenAI tools.
AFP confirmed that no such religious act took place during Iran’s World Cup matches. A photographer covering the games also verified that no on-field prayer scenes occurred.
The false posts were shared widely on Facebook, with captions praising the team’s alleged display of religious devotion. One post in Bengali claimed that the Iranian team “demonstrated love and respect for the Quran” during
the tournament.
The misleading content spread after Iran’s opening match, which ended in a 2–2 draw against New Zealand, followed by a goalless draw against Belgium in their second game.
Social media users appeared to believe the fabricated images, with many posting supportive and religiously themed comments in response.
AFP concluded that the images were digitally generated and do not reflect any real events during the World Cup matches.
