Iran vs USA World Cup 2022: Date & Time, Preview, Team News, Prediction

Iran vs.USA - a first meeting in 22 years between two countries never found wanting for headlines promises to be a momentous World Cup occasion.

Ruby Lee

lethanhha8991@gmail.com November 29, 2022 | 10:05

USA have drawn both of their opening games - 1-1 against Wales and 0-0 with England - but only a win will do for Gregg Berhalter's men if they are to reach the knockout stages. That's because Iran scored a shock 2-0 win over Wales in their second match to leave them on three points, one ahead of USA. England lead the group on four points.

While there are historic tensions between the nations, the players will be fully focused on matters on the pitch with a place in the last 16 up for grabs. The sides have met just once before in tournament, at the 1998 World Cup in France, with Iran claiming a 2-1 victory, as olympics.com reported.

Before the game, Iran’s state media even called for the US to be kicked out of the World Cup after posting a version of their national flag without the Islamic Republic’s symbol - to show “support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights”. Even without the permutations, a first meeting in 22 years between two countries never found wanting for headlines promises to be a momentous World Cup occasion.

Iran vs USA kickoff time

Iran vs USA is scheduled for a 7pm GMT kick-off on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. The match will take place at Al Thumama Stadium in Qatar.

Iran vs USA World Cup 2022: Date & Time, Preview, Team News, Prediction

IR Iran celebrate the second goal of their 2-0 Group B win over Wales (2022 Getty Images)

How to watch Iran vs USA on streaming or free TV

FOX Sports is the official World Cup English-language broadcast partner in the United States and will screen every match live. While matches during the tournament are spread across FOX, FS1 and FS2, USA v Iran will be screened on FOX.

FOX subscribers can also stream all the matches live on the FOX Sports App and FOXSports.com. Telemundo Deportes is the official Spanish-language broadcast partner in the United States and will also show every match live.

Those broadcasts will be live streamed on Peacock, but all matches are now only available on the Peacock Premium service.

TV channel: In the UK, the match will be televised free-to-air and live on BBC Two, with coverage beginning at 6.45pm.

Live stream: Fans can also catch the game live online via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.

Iran vs USA team news

According to sportsmole, Iran will be without the services of Alireza Jahanbakhsh in their final game of Group B as the former Brighton & Hove Albion man received a second yellow card of the tournament after a high-footed challenge on Wales' Chris Mepham during the closing stages of proceedings on Friday afternoon.

Star man Azmoun is a doubt for Team Melli after visibly struggling throughout his 68 minutes on the pitch against Wales, although Queiroz may risk the attacker from the start on Tuesday considering how much quality he adds to the side.

Alireza Beiranvand sat out of the Wales clash due to concussion protocol after a nasty head injury in Iran's first match of the World Cup with England, but the 30-year-old is available to return in this vital fixture if Queiroz decides to drop Hossein Hosseini, who kept a clean sheet on Friday.

USA have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Tuesday's match, with the large majority of fan and media attention focused on the lack of gametime for Borussia Dortmund's Giovanni Reyna, who has only seen 15 minutes of World Cup action so far.

Haji Wright replaced Josh Sargent in the USA starting XI against England in the only change from the Wales match, with the striker position for the Americans yet to find a consistent occupier as Berhalter attempts to discover his side's clinical touch.

Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson has played his part off the bench in the last two matches and looks set for a similar role on Tuesday with a midfield trio of Adams, McKennie and Yunus Musah impressing massively so far in this World Cup.

Weston McKennie, of the United States, competing for the ball with England’s Harry Kane in Friday’s World Cup match at Al Bayt Stadium, in Qatar.Associated Press / Fotoarena

The United States has no known fitness concerns going into this match. There were questions regarding the fitness of Weston McKennie prior to the England game, but the Juventus midfielder put forth an exceptional 77-minute performance to put those to bed. Yunus Musah also had concerns coming into the England game, but went 90 minutes against the European side in the draw.

The biggest question for Iran remains the health of attacker Sardar Azmoun. He raced back to fitness from a serious calf injury in time for the World Cup, and came off the bench vs. England in the opener, but was substituted off midway through the second half against Iran. Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand will supposedly be back from his concussion for this match, but that's according to Carlos Quieroz before the Wales game, so more will be needed on that front. Feyenoord winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh is suspended for yellow card accumulation, as sportingnews reported.

Iran vs USA prediction

Iran possible starting lineup:

H Hosseini; Rezaeian, M Hosseini, Pouraliganji, Mohammadi; Ali Gholizadeh, Nourollahi, Ezatolahi, Hajsafi; Taremi, Azmoun

USA possible starting lineup:

Turner; Dest, Zimmerman, Ream, Robinson; Adams, Musah, McKennie; Pulisic, Weah, Wright

USA vs. Iran key stats

-The United States has won at least one game in six of the country's 10 previous times participating in a World Cup, including each of the last two and three of the last four. Failing to beat Iran would mean the U.S. would not win a game at a World Cup for the first time since 2006, which is also the last time they failed to exit the group stage.

-The United States have, however, only won their third group game at a World Cup once — the famous win over Algeria in 2010. They have been defeated in all seven other games.

-USA and Iran have only met once previously in a competitive environment, with Iran emerging victorious at the 1998 World Cup on a 2-1 score, with Brian McBride's 87th minute consolation goal not enough to earn points as the U.S. crashed out of the group stage with three defeats. The two nations also met once in a 2000 friendly, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The 90 minutes of this game will be tense for some and thrilling for many, but the U.S. should have enough talent to pull this out. Iran will play for the draw knowing that a single point sees them through to the knockout stage, and this game should be one-way traffic.

That doesn't mean it will be easy by any stretch, and the U.S. have shown an inability to score throughout this tournament. So too have Iran, and one goal should be enough to see the United States into the knockout stage. Then again, one goal should have been enough to top Wales as well, and avoid all this nonsense to begin with.

Photo: Reuters.

Iran vs USA Betting Tips

Iran were outsiders against Wales in a game they absolutely dominated, and they should not be underestimated once more against the USA.

The number one ranked Asian team in the world have scored two goals in each of their two games and while the USA kept clean sheet against England last time out, there could be some value in backing Carlos Queiroz's side to find the back of the net.

As goal.com reported, Iran have scored in 23 of their last 24 matches in all competitions and will be confident of keeping that excellent run going on Tuesday night. Iran are offered at 53/100 (1.53) to find the back of the net, while both teams to score is available at a healthy looking 19/20 (1.95). Odds correct at the time of scoring.

Iran 0-1 USA

A confidence-boosting point against England will help elevate the US, who are the favourites despite Iran’s stirring performance against Wales. This one could be a true World Cup classic.

Iran are back on track in this World Cup after a worrying start against England, but now face a USA side who look a challenge for any team in this year's competition.

Berhalter's men are yet to accompany three points with their energetic performances, but should have enough to secure passage to the knockout stages against an Iranian team who may be without Azmoun.