Must-win showdown set for USA in Group B finale against Iran

MIAMI, Florida – The United States face a must-win situation in their Group B finale of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as they take on Iran on Tuesday night at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

The U.S. arrive into the encounter with two points following draws with Wales (1-1) and England (0-0) in their first two matches. With Iran a point ahead in second place, only a victory will suffice for the North Americans to reach the knockout stage of the tournament.

It is a scenario that they have faced before, as at South Africa 2010 the U.S. required a win against Algeria in their group finale in order to advance. A second half stoppage time goal from Landon Donovan pulled off that feat for the U.S. and now 12 years later at Qatar 2022 they will be hoping for a similar outcome.

The U.S. will also be seeking to kickstart their attack. Timothy Weah has the lone U.S. goal in the tournament, so the likes of Christian Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson and Gio Reyna could factor into the U.S. finding their scoring touch.

There is history when it comes to U.S.-Iran match-ups in World Cup play. The two nations squared off in the second match of the group stage at France 1998 in which Iran emerged with a 2-1 victory.

After a 6-2 defeat in their opener, Iran rebounded nicely and secured a 2-0 win against Wales thanks to a pair of goals in second half stoppage time.

With a win, the U.S. would advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the third straight time in which they have appeared in the tournament (2010, 2014).

PREVIOUS HISTORY VS. USMNT

The USA and Iran met in their second game of the group stage of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, a 2-1 defeat. Iran took the lead on Hamid Estili‘s goal in the 40^th minute and added a Mehdi Mahdavikia tally in the 83rd minute before current USMNT general manager Brian McBride pulled one back in the 87^th minute.

The teams also met in a January 16, 2000 friendly match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Midfielder Chris Armas scored for the U.S. in a 1-1 draw. Claudio Reyna, father of current U.S. forward Gio Reyna who made his FIFA World Cup debut as a second-half substitute against England, captained the Americans.