Few fixtures in World Cup history have carried as much political weight as Iran vs USA, and with a possible rematch on the cards in 2026, memories of that night in 1998 are resurfacing. Decades of tension lay in the background when the two teams met in Lyon.

Iran is at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. So is the United States, as they are one of the hosts. The last time the two sides met at a World Cup event, the Iranians gave white roses to their American counterparts.

President Trump has been a big supporter of the World Cup coming to America, repeatedly hosting Infantino at the White House and speaking in glowing terms about the tournament. Infantino has gone to great lengths to strengthen those relations, awarding Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize last year after he was overlooked for the Nobel Prize.

When Iran’s national soccer team walks onto American soil this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it will do so against the backdrop of an Iranian government crackdown against protesters in January,

After months of doubts over their participation, Iran’s players have received visas for the United States just days before the World Cup begins.

Iran's participation has become one of the most complex stories of the tournament.