In the match between Iran and the US, football is always political

Posted On: March 2, 2023

When the draw for the various World Cup groups took place this spring, Iranian fans joked on social media that they had been placed in the ‘coup group’. Iran will face Britain and the United States, countries that supported the 1953 coup that overthrew Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.

Although talked about jokingly, group B is without a doubt a politically charged group. Sport and politics have always been inseparable, especially with a meeting between Iran and the United States scheduled for Tuesday.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the US-backed Shah, relations between the two countries have cooled. In the same year, dozens of US diplomats were taken hostage and detained at the US Embassy in Tehran for 444 days. As a result, the US broke off diplomatic relations with Iran.

Relations deteriorated further after the support for the demonstrations

Tensions are currently running high over Iran’s nuclear program and US concerns that the country is on track to acquire nuclear weapons. In recent months, relations have soured further as some US officials say they support the current demonstrations in Iran.

But while Iranian and US officials clashed, the two countries’ footballers faced each other on the pitch on Tuesday. This is only the second time they have met in the World Cup. The first time is still well remembered by many Iranians: during the group stage of the 1998 World Cup, they beat the ‘Big Devils’ 2-1.

Despite points being made, particularly by the Iranian regime, about how political the game is, the mood on the ground remains friendly. Iran’s players carried white roses to share with the US team, and a group photo was taken before the game.

The ayatollah forbids handshakes

Not that there is no political sensitivity. Even though Iran is a team that has to walk to America to shake hands with America before the game, according to FIFA regulations, players are prevented from doing so by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader. After deliberation, a compromise was reached: the roles were reversed and America made her way to Iran.

When asked whether Tuesday’s game would be politically charged, US national coach Gregg Berhalter said in the negative. He expected tensions to escalate, but not over politics. Well, because the two countries only want to advance to the eighth final; country played for a place in the last sixteen. Iran has the advantage; if there is a draw then Iran will advance to the knockout stages – provided England do not lose to Wales.

But the stakes are high for Iran and the US. The US is hoping for a good result ahead of the next World Cup, which will be co-hosted with Canada and Mexico. In an effort to further establish a football culture among men in their own country, it would be a huge damper if the men’s team did not make it past the group stage.

Scored a lot of goals and then lost

For the Iranian regime, a victory over America would be gratefully received for propaganda purposes, and perhaps used as a distraction from domestic demonstrations. Therefore, the match created a double feeling for the Iranian fans, just like during the game against England last week. “In my heart I don’t really want them to win,” one Iran fan in Doha, his face painted the Iranian color, told Guard. “I hope they score a lot of goals and then lose.”

In recent days, the protests have also led to disputes between the two countries’ football associations. The US Soccer Federation posted versions of the Iranian flag on its Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages over the weekend omitting the Islamic Republic’s emblem.

According to a statement from the union, this was to show solidarity “with Iranian women fighting for human rights.” The Iranian Football Association immediately filed a complaint with FIFA and is now demanding that the American be suspended. The American Federation has now exchanged the modified flag for the official version.