World Cup result: How the USA beat Iran to set up round of 16 clash with Netherlands

The may be the badge of the U.S. women's national team, but we love the fit all the same.

Yes yes yes, there is a game on today. But what about the really important matters?

Here at The Athletic, our aim is to keep you informed about what is happening in Qatar both on and off the pitch.

I say to you, what could be more important than the fashion choices the 32 managers are making on the touchline?

Our Caoimhe O'Neill has taken a look at every World Cup manager - from Gregg Berhalter's impressive sneaker collection to Carlos Queiroz' sitting-outside-a-cafe-in-Milan-drinking-a-second-espresso-of-the-day-while-flicking-through-a-broadsheet kind of outfit.

Go Further below to read her full piece.

Even the sailors are excited for this decisive match!

Here are a pair of traditional Qatari dhow boats bearing the US' and Iran's sails in Doha.

(Photo: Getty Images)

It’s crunch time at the 2022 World Cup.

Brazil, Portugal and France have already secured qualification to the last 16, but the other 13 places in the knockout stages are yet to be decided.

Those will be confirmed over the next few days as all eight groups come to their conclusions between today and Friday.

It's been a feast of football at this tournament so far, with four games on each day. But fans may be disappointed to learn that the final round of group games are played in simultaneous pairs instead of being staggered.

Why is that the case? The Athletic is on hand to explain the situation.

Gregg Berhalter might be considering who to deploy up front but the USMNT will likely need Christian Pulisic to be at his best if they're to get the result they need.

Pulisic did a fine job offensively and defensively against England, leading the team with a combined tally of five shots and chances created, as well as engaging in more duels (10) than any other USA player, according to Opta.

The Chelsea player has been involved in more attacking sequences (9) at this World Cup than any other team-mate.

USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams expects Iran to go for a win, even though there is a scenario that sees Iran advance with only a draw.

Carlos Queiroz has crafted an organised, pragmatic side, but after a conservative display in an opening 6-2 loss against England, they were effective when they played aggressively against Wales.

“After watching Iran’s last game, I would not expect them to (park the bus) because they went after the game and they were looking for three points,” Adams said on Monday.

“You could tell from the mentality, the group, they were attacking and counter-attacking, doing everything they needed to do, fighting in every single duel, tackles; every single moment of the game looked like it could be their moment to score a goal. So I’m not expecting them to do that (play defensively).

“We know that it’s a knockout and of course we have to attack. I mean, I’m not the coach of their team, so I’m not exactly sure what they’re gonna do but, based off of last game, I’m expecting them to come after it.”

Fancy some match stats to get you even more in the mood?

Concentration will be key: the USMNT should note that each of Iran's past eight World Cup goals have been scored in the second half.

A draw would freakishly mean the USA would become the third team eliminated from a 32-team World Cup despite ending the group stage unbeaten. Belgium and New Zealand dipped out in 1998 and 2010 respectively with three draws.

A clean sheet would certainly boost the USMNT's chances; if they shut out Iran, they'd post consecutive clean sheets at the World Cup for the first time since their opening two fixtures at the inaugural tournament in 1930.

And how about a Musah milestone? Yunus Musah celebrates his 20th birthday today. He could become the first player to score a World Cup goal on his birthday since Patrick Vieira did so for France against Togo in 2006. Vieira turned 30 that day.

If you're just joining us, let's recap those Group B scenarios in full:

England

• Only eliminated with defeat margin of four or more goals against Wales
• Will top group with win
• Can also top group with draw if Iran don’t win or if USA don’t win by four goals

Iran

• Qualify with win against USA
• Can qualify with draw if Wales draw/lose
• Will top group with win if England draw/lose

USA

• Qualify with win against Iran
• Will top group with win if England lose or if England draw and USA win by four-goal margin or more

Wales

• Qualify with win of four or more goals against England
• Can qualify with win if USA and Iran draw
• Will top group with win by four or more goals if USA and Iran draw

You can keep track of all the group permutations here as we head into the final lot of games...

The USMNT went through a final training session last night ahead of this crucial game — and there were plenty of relaxed faces...

The USMNT need goals and while our experts Sam Stejskal and Paul Tenorio don't expect drastic changes, they have highlighted that a selection question comes up top.

“In terms of alternatives at the striker position, we’re comfortable with the three that we have,” Gregg Berhalter said ahead of the game. “We haven’t necessarily thought about putting Gio (Reyna) there, or Christian (Pulisic) there or Timmy Weah there or Jordan Morris there. We’ve been more focused on the three that we have in camp.”

One of the three listed strikers — Jesus Ferreira, Josh Sargent or Haji Wright — will likely start against Iran then, but so far in this World Cup, the U.S.’s No 9 has been a bit disconnected from the rest of the attack.

Sargent was involved very little in the build-up against Wales. He had just 17 touches in 74 minutes, the least of any player with at least 10 minutes on the field, though he made one of those touches count, helping set up Weah’s goal.

Wright played a similarly disconnected game, in possession at least, against England.

One player who hasn’t been used yet, who may be able to find those spaces and connect with the wingers is Ferreira.

The FC Dallas striker played in six World Cup qualifiers, scoring once, and in six other games this calendar year for the national team, scoring four times in the 5-0 win over Grenada in June.

Look out for that potential change to the starting XI...

Let's get back to the game; a while until the teamsheets are in but what do we know already?

After being introduced from the bench in Iran’s win against Wales, Brighton winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh was shown his second yellow card of the tournament and so is suspended for this one.

Iran have no other reported issues and could have their first-choice goalkeeper, Alireza Beiranvand, back available after he missed the win against Wales because of concussion protocols.

As for the USMNT, all eyes will be on the team selected by Gregg Berhalter, with one big talking point the involvement of Gio Reyna — who has only played a few minutes at this World Cup.

There's been a fair bit of clamour to see Brenden Aaronson’s name in the starting XI, but given an impressive midfield performance against England, the Leeds United man might have to settle for a place on the bench again.

Carlos Queiroz might have had a big impact in New Jersey but after a troubled spell at Real Madrid and a Manchester United stint where he felt underappreciated, the 69-year-old has emerged as a rare and much-needed unifying figure in Iran in his twilight coaching years.

More insight into the Iran boss and his managerial journey here.

Queiroz might have been embroiled in plenty off the pitch already, but he's been full of praise for today's opponents on the pitch.

As far as he's concerned, the United States have been the best team in the group.

He heaped praise on Gregg Berhalter's side when he was speaking on Monday.

Queiroz said: "Tomorrow will be a very very special game for us, for me particularly to be with the national team of Iran for the third time and to be able to move to the chance to qualify is something that makes us proud.

"Once again we want to try to do our best against without any doubt, in my opinion, the most consistent and regular team that makes the best two performances in the group.

"They played very well against Wales, very well against and England. All the other teams, including ourselves, were not so consistent."

Bubbling away in the background, too, has been quite the spat between former US coach Jurgen Klinsmann and current Iran boss Carlos Queiroz.

Queiroz accused the Germany legend of being a “disgrace to football” for comments he made during post-match analysis of Iran's win over Wales in which he described perceived Iran 'gamemanship' as "part of their culture".

“That’s their culture, that’s their way of doing it and that’s why Carlos Quieroz, he fits really well," Klinsmann said.

Queiroz reacted angrily, posting a lengthy message on social media in which he labelled Klinsmann’s remarks as “outrageous” and called for him to step down from his role as a member of FIFA’s Qatar Technical Study Group.

Klinsmann insisted he had been misinterpreted and reckons his former role — he spent five years in charge of the USMNT before being sacked in 2016 — had inflamed the situation.

“He took it the wrong way," Klinsmann said. "Maybe they took it wrong because they see me as the former United States coach so they feel maybe a bit provoked. It was simply describing their emotional state."