My first memory of the World Cup came in the form of the qualifying match between my homegrown Aussies, and a little known Iran.

Fast forward 20 years, and Iran is now home to one of the best miracles in my life - my father.

In 1998, my mother met her soon-to-be second husband.

I was 7 years old at the time, born to a “father” who left behind his wife and children, a 5 year old me and a 3 year old Stephanie.

He chose to move to Greece and start a new family.

So at 5, I didn’t know much, but what I did was that I had no Dad anymore.

I was the man of the house.

We lived in a tiny unit in Reservoir, next to another single parent home.

Khloe, our neighbour, who was my age, would sometimes knock on our door in the morning before school.

“Helen, can I please have four slices of white bread”

They were also doing it tough, and the bread was for Khloe and her sister to make sandwiches for the day.

It’s crazy how clearly I remember her face and those words.

My life was projected to go in a direction that many in the same position can’t control.

Lucky for us, we had an amazing mother and grandparents.

Soon enough, a new man stepped into our lives.

A Persian man with a white panel-van, running his own painting business.

He came over to paint our kitchen one time, and I remember asking him:

“Harry, will you marry my Mum”

The rest is history.

In 2000, Mum married for the second time and we had a happy family again.

To me Hamed Dehghani is my father.

The symbolism of Iran is very unique to me - and I love it that way.

So in 1998, we all sat around to watch the game and for the first time in my life, I wasn't cheering for Australia. 

It was an incredible scene - seeing the Persians make their way onto the MCG to cheer on their gallant football side. 

Australia were up 2-0 during the game, in what seemed as though a comfortable win in the waiting.

In miraculous fashion, the Iranians were able to claw back a 2-2 draw and proceed on away goals.

The highlights are simply a MUST WATCH:

History will tell how Iran went through to the next stage whilst Australia were left licking their wounds.

This was my first taste of World Cup and international football, but it was also a moment to cheer another part of the world where I hadn't grown up.

Today I cheer for the Aussies, but another part of me cheers just as hard for the often maligned Iranians. 

This is my story.