According to FIFA regulations, teams in each match are classified as team A or team B. Team B, Iran in this match, typically walks towards team A for the pre-match handshakes. The supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, "gave express orders that the Iranian team must not walk towards the Americans". Mehrdad Masoudi, one of the FIFA media officers of the match, negotiated with the US team, and as a result, the Americans walked towards the Iranians.[2]
During a delicately choreographed pregame ceremony, the Iranian players gifted white roses to their American opponents as a symbol of peace.[3]
A major upset, the match was described by The New York Times as a "historic victory" for Iran. Although the Iranian government took steps to rein in celebrations after the countrywide uproar when Iran qualified for the World Cup, thousands of fans publicly reveled in Tehran, including women without headscarves.[5]
The resignation of Sampson has been partially attributed to the match, as some American players alleged that poor team management led to the loss.[6]
The match had a profound impact on the career of Iranian-American Afshin Ghotbi, who was working as part of the technical staff of the USMNT. The emotional game between the United States and Iran persuaded Afshin into entering the path as a football coach, ultimately went on to take charge of the Iranian national team from 2009 to 2011, the first American to coach Iran.[7][8][9]
Jeff Agoos, a former US defender, said that "We did more in 90 minutes than the politicians did in 20 years."[3] Eighteen months later, the teams played a friendly match at Pasadena just outside of Los Angeles, home to the largest population of Iranian Americans outside Iran. The game finished in a 1–1 draw.[2]
As Germany drew with Yugoslavia in the earlier group match and both finished with four points after two matches, the United States were eliminated from reaching the knockout stage after losing to Iran. Iran lost to Germany and were therefore eliminated as well, while the United States lost their final group match to Yugoslavia.
2022 FIFA World Cup rematch
Iran and the United States met again at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on 29 November 2022, in their final match of Group B. The United States, who faced elimination with failing to win, defeated Iran 1–0 by a lone goal from Christian Pulisic, advancing to the round of 16 and eliminating Iran.[10]
