After drawing England, the USMNT will be seeking its first win of the 2022 FIFA World Cup as they take on Iran. The Stars and Stripes put in a spirited performance in a match that many pundits, especially those in England, figured would be a comfortable win for the Three Lions, but were unable to convert any of the opportunities that fell their way. As such, Gregg Berhalter's men currently have picked up two points following two draws against Wales and England, which keeps them afloat, but could face a tough battle as they face an Iran side who managed to beat Wales 2-0 last time out.
Indeed, following their 6-2 thrashing at England, many were ready to write Iran off, but Carlos Queiroz's side surprised everyone with their performance against Wales. While they were certainly helped by Wales having to play with ten men following Wayne Hennessey's dismissal, the fact remains that win ended a long-standing poor streak for Iran against European sides. The return of Bayer Leverkusen's Sardar Azmoun also gave the Middle Eastern nation the added edge they desperately lacked against England, and with a win in hand, Iran will be fancying their chances against a USA side who have shown plenty of promise, but still do not have the results they need.
To add more pressure on the USA - they appear to have a "third game" hoodoo at World Cups, with losses in seven of their last eight group stage matches. The only exception was in 2010, when they beat Algeria 1-0. Meanwhile, Iran are not only hoping to qualify for the round of 16 but also are aiming to win back to back fixtures at a World Cup for the first time in their nation's history.
This match will be a tense affair due to some rumblings that have been going on behind the scenes, with Iran furiously reacting to a tweet that the US Soccer Federation had put out which chose to omit the Islamic Republic logo from the country's flag. It comes at a time where relations between the two countries continue to be strained, and older USA fans will remember back in 1998 when Iran beat the USA 2-1 to dump them out of the World Cup - so that adds another interesting sub-plot to an already high-stakes match.
Match facts: Iran vs USMNT
- This will be the second meeting for the USMNT and Iran at a World Cup...
- ...back in 1998, Iran beat the USA 2-1 and eliminated them from the competition
- The Stars and Stripes have lost seven of their last eight group stage matchday three matches
- In addition, they have won just two of their last 14 World Cup games (D6 L6)
- Iran are hoping to win back to back World Cup fixtures for the first time in their history
- The USA's scoreless draw was their first such result at a World Cup in their last 35 matches
Team news: Iran vs USMNT
Iran: Alireza Jahanbakhsh misses out due to a suspension, while Alireza Beiranvand could return after missing the Wales match due to a concussion.
USMNT: No new injury or suspension concerns for the USA, meaning that Berhalter will be able to field his strongest team for this must-win clash.
Broadcast info: Iran vs USMNT
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Match details, result and original broadcast info
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