Qatar November 29, 2022: Winner of Iran vs USA in Group B on Tuesday will progress to World Cup last 16; US Soccer Federation showed support of protests in Iran by not using country’s flag on social media posts; Iran complained to FIFA; US captain Tyler Adams quizzed on racism in his country by Iranian journalist
Iran vs USA is a crucial match for both sides at the 2022 World Cup but the Group B encounter is surrounded by political issues as well, with a “very strange” pre-game press conference highlighting the tensions between the nations.
In the build-up to Tuesday’s game, in which the winning side will progress to the knockout stages in Qatar, the US Soccer Federation moved to show support for women in Iran by not using the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran on social media posts.
There have been protests in Iran sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in custody after she was arrested by the country’s so-called morality police for failing to wear her head scarf properly.
Iran’s football federation had complained to FIFA about the US using an Iranian flag without the Islamic script and emblem which were added in 1980.
The US federation said it “wanted to show support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights”.
The social media posts now show the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, however, Qatar organisers have been preventing Iranian fans from displaying any old Iranian flags or signs and T-shirts with the “Woman Life Freedom” slogan of the protesters at World Cup games.
Women have effectively been banned from attending men’s football matches in Iran for the past 43 years.
