Sarah ManavisVerified account

For Iran it's the Jāmeh Mosque in Isfahan, a jewel of Iranian architecture: a huge mosque complex built around a central courtyard with four iwans - big, vaulted niches/gates. Begun in the 770s, it has been much remodelled ever since. #cathedralballworldcup pic.twitter.com/rVlozeGm6l

And for Morocco, the Mosque-University of of al-Qarawiyyin. Whatever various other places may say, this complex of worship and learning, founded in Fez in 859, is almost certainly the oldest still-working university in the world...  #cathedralballworldcuppic.twitter.com/dgUwn5Y4gy

Lisbon Cathedral, representing Portugal, has a wonderfully austere, castle-like facade: but once you get up close the fine detail is also gorgeous. Maybe this is accidentally a metaphor for Portugal's football team but honestly I have no idea.  #cathedralballworldcuppic.twitter.com/lUuYdtOKPL

And, for Spain, the endless, mirage-like arches of the Cathedral in Cordoba - originally, as you can probably tell, a great mosque, subsequently (clunkily?) converted. An interesting group-mate for Tunisia...  #cathedralballworldcuppic.twitter.com/KgcgJWCsnE