Iran v USA: World Cup crunch match mixes qualification opportunities with geopolitical consequences
Tuesday’s crunch game is not just about who qualifies for the knockouts of this World Cup, it’s also a geopolitical propaganda battle playing out on the football pitch.
Iran vs USA will be the most politically charged fixture at the World Cup since… Iran vs USA back in 1998.
On that day in Lyon, Iran knocked USA out of the tournament with a 2-1 victory, but they ultimately fell short of the knockout stages. Tuesday’s clash has even higher on-the-pitch stakes, with the winner likely nicking second spot in Group B.
Al-Thumama Stadium will host the second meeting of the two nations in World Cup history, and the political bickering has dominated the build-up.
The Iranian FA has called on FIFA to expel the US after the USMNT social media team posted a graphic with a doctored Iranian flag without the Islamic Republic emblem.
Demands for a 10-game ban for their opponents were in response to “offending the dignity” of their country. The US explained that it had decided to forgo the official flag on social media accounts to show “support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights”.
Former US coach Jurgen Klinsmann and current Iran coach have been in a spat in the build-up to the game. Klinsmann suggested Iran’s physical and sometimes dirty tactics against Wales “fits really well with the national team and their culture”, with Carlos Querioz claiming the German’s comments were a “disgrace against football”.
Tyler Adams was then quizzed on racism in his country by an Iranian journalist on Sunday, while the midfielder was criticised for pronouncing the name of his country incorrectly.
I can't tell you how impressive Tyler Adams was facing questions from Iranian media at today's press conference.pic.twitter.com/YUlvrVEfud
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Amidst political protests and unrest in Iran, the backdrop has provided a strange atmosphere for Iran’s team in Qatar. The team refused to sing the national anthem in their opening game against England, an act punishable by law in Iran. The anthem has been loudly jeered by Iranian supporters at both games, with emotional fans sending a message of protest to their government at home.
Prior to the tournament, former Iranian international Mohammed Taghavi told The Sports Gazette “For the Iranian government, if they win against the United States the World Cup is finished, they will be the champions.”
Now, with the added context of qualification for the knockout stages the prize for the winner, the clash of the “Great Satan” against the “Axis of Evil” takes on even more importance.
While most Iranian players back in 1998 supported their government, most of this crop do not. As a result, the families of the Iranian team have been threatened if the players ‘do not behave’ during the match.
Despite the tensions, it would be difficult for the Iranian players to view their American counterparts as eternal political enemies, and vice versa. On the pitch, the 1998 clash was a largely friendly affair, and it is likely Tuesday will be no different. In a tournament shrouded in political and ethical controversies, the players will be happy to focus on the football.
Iran will be without Alireza Jahanbakhsh for the game following his second yellow card of the tournament against Wales. Team Melli will be sweating over the fitness of striker Sardar Azmoun, who has been battling a calf injury since September. Although fit to start against Wales, Azmoun lasted just 68 minutes in a spirited display in which it was clear he was playing through the pain barrier.
Azmoun did not start the 6-2 thrashing at the hands of England, and Iran offered very little on the counter-attack as a result. In contrast, Iran looked dangerous with Azmoun involved against Wales, with runners joining the breakaways at every opportunity.
Iran face a solid US defence that have yet to concede a goal from open play. USA have no fresh injury concerns, with the large majority of fan and media attention on the exclusion of Dortmund’s Giovanni Reyna. If the American’s are in need of a goal late on, expect another substitute cameo from Reyna, who has only seen 15 minutes of action thus far.
Haki Wright replaced Josh Sargent up front in the draw with England, with coach Gregg Berhalter attempting to find the side’s clinical touch.
Tensions ahead of Tuesday’s game do not compare to the heights of 1998, but the political undercurrent amid civil unrest in Iran is unavoidable ahead of a game with huge qualification repercussions. The Iranian government are desperate to beat the US to shame their ideological enemies, while the USMNT are caught up in a situation they didn’t ask for, but are in the middle of whether they like it or not.
