Iran vs. United States is one of the most striking posters at the upcoming World Cup football. The two countries are not very best friends, but in Qatar the Iranians want to “think only about football”.
Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran and the US have been at odds with each other with drawn knives. More than 50 American diplomats were held hostage in the capital Tehran for two years.
Since then, the relationship between the two (core) superpowers has cooled down. In 2018, the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and re-imposed severe economic sanctions on the country.
For the upcoming World Cup, Iran and the US were placed in the same group yesterday, Group B with England and the winner of the European play-offs.
If it depends on Dragan Skocic, the national coach of Iran, we will not notice the tensions between Iran and the US in Qatar. “I am not interested in political issues,” the 53-year-old Croat told Iran’s state news agency IRNA. “I only want to think about football in November.”
I am not interested in political issues.
“Want to 1/8th finals”
It is also the second time that Iran and the US will meet in the group stage of the World Cup. In 1998, Iran won 2-1 against the US in France.
Iran is currently number 21 in the FIFA ranking. Skocic thinks his team can make it to the 1/8th finals. “I have always said that we have a very good team. We can qualify for the second round.”
“England will be the toughest opponent, but we are going to use our own strength. There will be a lot of fans from Iran in Qatar, it will feel like a home game. Hopefully we can give them something to celebrate.”
