Iran takes against an excellent USA team at the Al Thumama Stadium on Tuesday, with three points being enough for either team to advance to the knockout stages after their thrilling victory over Wales on Friday kept their World Cup dreams alive. Iran looked like a different team against Wales to the one that was thrashed by England in their opening game, whereas the USA will be rueing missed chances that forced them to share the points with England last time out. Following a humiliating loss to England, Iran appeared to be returning to the performance levels that earned them a spot in the World Cup. Late goals from Roozbeh Cheshmi and Ramin Rezaeian quickly dispelled any notions that they would be the whipping boys of the group.

Sardar Azmoun, a forward for Bayer Leverkusen, was available from the start against Wales, giving Carlos Queiroz's team a greater offensive threat. The 27-year-old combined well with star Mehdi Taremi, who unlike in the first game of the group stage had a competent partner in crime at the top end of the pitch. Azmoun has been sidelined for his club side since early October with a calf injury and was down receiving treatment on three separate occasions before miraculously rising to his feet to continue, with the 40-goal international eventually being forced off after 68 minutes as his side chased a winner. 

Iran, who are currently in second place in Group B with three points after two games, understands that a victory over the United States will guarantee them a place in the World Cup's knockout rounds for the first time in team history. However, even a draw on Tuesday would be sufficient if Wales loses to England. Fellow Asian qualifiers Japan and Saudi Arabia have caused significant upsets within the first week of the Qatar FIFA 2022 World Cup. Iran could add to the success story of that region by advancing to the knockout stages for the first time in history. 

Gregg Berhalter's USA team has demonstrated they are poised to be a fresh prospect in international football with a young crop of dynamic and athletic stars despite failing to earn a perfect score in either of their two first games at the Qatar 2022 World Cup. After decades of Americans competing at the top level in Europe being a rare sight, 10 such players donned the American jersey on Friday night and overran England for large parts of the encounter, with only poor finishing preventing them from earning their first World Cup win over England since 1950. 

Weston McKennie blasted a strike over from inside the box after evading the attention of Bukayo Saka, whilst shortly after Christian Pulisic struck the bar with a ferocious effort which had Jordan Pickford scrambling to deflect the ball away from goal. What really stood out for the USA was their athleticism and sharpness compared to that of their English counterparts. If the USA team defeats Iran on Tuesday, a knockout match against either the Netherlands, Ecuador, or Senegal awaits them. If the USA can find their ruthlessness in front of the goal, they can be a threat to the elite football nations of the world.

The game might end in a 1-1 draw.

(Image: Khel now)