The United States and Iran may be at war but their conflict could soon shift to the World Cup arena this summer.
Iran is heading to the soccer tournament, due to start next week across the US, Canada and Mexico, while the country is at war with the primary host nation, a situation that is unique in the tournament’s history.
The conflict, which started in February, has been halted by a fragile ceasefire since April 8 and Donald Trump has told aides privately that it will continue – unless US troops are killed.
But there is a chance the USMNT and Iran could square off under the spotlight of the World Cup in what would be a fascinating collision of geo-politics and sport.
The two teams were drawn in separate groups back in December. The USMNT are in Group D with Austria, Paraguay and Turkey. Iran will compete in Group G and play against Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
Therefore, the two teams can only meet after the group stage in the knockout rounds and the most likely scenario will see them face off in the round of 32.
The United States and Iran may be at war but their conflict could soon shift to the World Cup
Iran could potentially face the USMNT in the knockout stages of this summer’s tournament
If both Iran and the USMNT finish second in their respective groups, then they will set up a mouth-watering clash in Arlington, Texas at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
They could also collide in the last-16 in Seattle, but this would require both teams to win their groups and their round of 32 matches.
A quarter-final showdown is also possible but the scenario is highly complex and unlikely.
The Iran team will be based in Tijuana, Mexico as a result of security and logistical reasons, rather than staying in America. However, they will be playing their group stage matches in California and Washington state.
They have spent more than two weeks in Turkey, mostly preparing at the coastal resort Antalya, and some went to the capital Ankara to submit visa applications at the US embassy.
Media access to their World Cup preparations has been limited, and the players rarely speak to international journalists.
The team is set to travel to Mexico this weekend after receiving visas from the Mexican embassy in Ankara. The team said Thursday that the process of obtaining entry permits had been finalized for all members of the squad.
The US and Israel launched its war against Iran on February 28, killing its supreme leader and other top officials.
Donald Trump has told aides privately his ceasefire will continue – unless US troops are killed
Mojtaba Khamenei has been in hiding since American and Israeli forces bombed his father
The Iran team has spent over two weeks in Turkey, preparing at the coastal resort Antalya
Iran responded with strikes targeting Israel, U.S. forces and the Gulf Arab states. It also has maintained a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, imperiling global energy supplies.
Despite a nominal ceasefire being in place, Iran and the US have yet to negotiate a permanent end to the war and attacks continue in the region.
Iran’s team is not required to enter the United States until June 14, one day before its first match against New Zealand at the Los Angeles Rams´ stadium in Inglewood.
Iran returns to Inglewood to face Belgium on June 21 and completes Group G in Seattle, against Egypt on June 26.
‘Well, to be honest, it’s not easy,’ said Saeid Ezatolahi, a 29-year-old midfielder who also played for Iran in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, earlier this week.
‘That’s going to be my third World Cup. So for me and some of the other players, it might be easier to manage these kind of things.
‘But at the end… it is going to be difficult for us because at the same time, we are following the news in our country and the political things, of course, can affect the mind of the players and the people.’
