Must-win match for USA highlights Tuesday schedule
The U.S.'s future in the World Cup will be decided Tuesday against Iran. After draws against Wales and England, the U.S. can only advance to the knockout stage with a win; anything else and they will be boarding a flight home.
Iran, ranked nine spots lower than USA in the FIFA rankings, defeated Wales and was blown out by England, so they are facing a similar situation as the U.S. -- though a draw could also result in them making it out of the group stage as well. Wales can only advance with an unlikely dominating performance against England.
The match has almost been eclipsed by controversy over the U.S. Soccer Federation posting a photo of the Iranian flag on Twitter without the Islamic symbol. The post was to show support for protesters in Iran, and has earned calls for FIFA to kick the USA out of the competition. That's unlikely, but Iran can handle it on the field by simply beating the USA. FiveThirtyEight's predictions give the U.S. a 38% chance of winning versus 31% for Iran (with a 31% chance of a draw).
This is only the third time the two countries have met. They faced off in another politically heated match in the 1998 World Cup when the U.S. government called Iran the "most active" sponsor of terrorism just weeks beforehand. Iran won that match, 2-1.
The other two games on Tuesday will be in Group A, including the final match for the home country. Unfortunately for local fans, Qatar has already been eliminated from contention for the knockout stages. Netherlands can advance with a win over Qatar (or a draw and some help), while the winner of Ecuador-Senegal will also advance. Ecuador would advance with a draw.
Tuesday's schedule of matches:
- Ecuador vs. Senegal, 10 a.m., FS1
- Netherlands vs. Qatar, 10 a.m., Fox
- Iran vs. United States, 2 p.m., Fox
- Wales vs. England, 2 p.m., FS1