Iran Looking for Second Win Over USA in World Cup

The match will be held on November 29 in Doha.

Iran is set for its sixth FIFA World Cup adventure. Currently the top Asian nation on the FIFA World Ranking, it previously appeared at the tournament in 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014 and 2018.

At France 1998, Iran, headed by Jalal Talebi, went down 1-0 in its opening match to Yugoslavia before facing USA in the second outing.

This match grabbed the headlines at the time, and not just on the sports pages, due to the political tensions between the two countries. Fans in Lyon who got to attend the evening game were treated to a defining moment in sport. Together with referee Urs Meier, the two teams posed for a photograph before kick-off, while the Iranian players gave the opposition players flowers as a gesture of peace.

The match itself was an example of fair play, with Iran triumphing 2-1 thanks to goals from Hamid Estili and Mehdi Mahdavikia, who would go on to play in the Bundesliga. Brian McBride pulled a late goal back for the Americans, but it was too little, too late.

After the final whistle of what was a thrilling contest, the solidarity inherent in football was once again on display as the players congratulated one another and exchanged jerseys. The group stage was as far as either team would go on this occasion, with Germany and Yugoslavia making it through to the Round of 16 instead, FIFA.com wrote.

At Qatar 2022, Iran will be eager to go one better. Group B will see coach Dragan Skocic’s team face the winner of the European play-offs between Scotland, Ukraine and Wales, England and USA in a repeat of that iconic match from France 1998.

Led by star players Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen) and Mehdi Taremi (Porto), the Iranians will be looking to secure a second World Cup win over USA on November 29 and celebrate qualification for the Round of 16 for the first time in their history.