Ardashir Babajani found a very special way to share the World Cup with his 9-year-old son Alireza. The boy, an Argentina fan with a visual impairment, was able to follow the semifinal against England thanks to a homemade tactile soccer field.
As the match progressed, Ardashir guided Alireza’s hand over the board and narrated every play to him. This way, the boy not only listened to the television commentary, but could also feel Argentina’s movements, attacks, and goals in a much more direct way.
The moment was recorded in Borujen, Iran, and went viral because of the emotion shared by father and son. Argentina’s victory over England took the team to the final against Spain, but for many users, the most powerful image was seeing Alireza celebrate soccer through his father’s hands.