JAKARTA - There was no meeting where the heat overflowed off the football field other than the United States and Iran matches.
It is the only 2022 World Cup match that is most politically charged even in their sports arena that may not be at odds.
Especially when it comes to the current wave of protests in Iran over the death of a girl by security forces that are too excessive.
Of course, the two coaches from both teams put aside bilateral relations between the two countries.
They emphasized that they only focus on football, the 2022 World Cup and sports capabilities in bringing people together, including Iranians and Americans.
Following the Islamic revolution of Iran, Washington and Tehran have broken diplomatic relations that have continued to tension until now.
"I imagine this match is being contested fiercely because of the fact that both teams want to advance to the next round, not because of politics or because of relations between our countries," US coach Gregg Berhalter said.
Berhalter actually stated that football actually unites mankind. "You are united by the same love for this sport," he continued.
Iran's dramatic victory over Wales in a score of 2-0 and the US goalless draw against England on Friday left one of the last games of Group B to be thrilling.
England, which topped the standings with four points, will face the bottom team Wales in their last game in this group. England is quite a draw, and if this happens, especially if the US wins, then the Iranian contest against the United States will decide which team will qualify for the round of 16.
This meeting itself is a repeat of the 1998 World Cup group stage which was won by Iran 2-1.
As is likely to happen in Monday night's match, the 1998 contest was marked by a symbolic moment before the match at the Stade Gerland in Lyon when Iranian players provided white roses that became a symbol of peace in Iran, to American players.
Maybe that 24-year-old moment could happen again tonight, and it becomes even more interesting because Iranian players also seem to protest against the government's treatment of demonstrators who have killed many people including the 22-year-old girl, Mahsa Amini, who died in detention and sparked national protests regarding dress-up according to the country's Shari'a.
Tim Melli menolak menyanyikan lagu kebangsaan Iran dalam pertandingan pertamanya melawan Inggris untuk menunjukkan solidarity kepada pengunjuk rasa, sampai mengundangnya dari pendukungnya sendiri.
Amid increasing pressure for neutral players in the national demonstration movement, Iran rose to beat Wales after three days earlier they were told England 2-6.
Berhalter closely observed the rise of Iran by being aware of the Iranian threat that could throw Wales so convincingly.
"Now we have to be sure that we are good enough to go into the second round," Iranian coach Carlos Queiroz said.
However, Queiroz respects the United States which he calls a brilliant team.
Queiroz does not want to focus on being distracted to things outside of football, "because what we want to do is present gifts to Iranian supporters."
Predictions of the first eleven players
Iran (3-5-2): Hossein Hosseini; Ramin Rezaeian, Majid Hosseini, Morteza Pouraliganji, Milad Mohammadi; Ali Gholizadeh, Ahmad Nourollahi, Saeid Ezatigasi, Ehsan Hajsafi; Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun
Amerika Serikat (4-3-3): Matt Turner; Sergino Dest, Walkerirman, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie; Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, Haji Wright
Important statistics of both teams
Prior to this, the two countries had met twice. Iran won 2-1 in the 1998 World Cup, while the other one, which was a friendly match in 2000, ended in a 1-1 draw.
Iran's 2-1 win over the US that day was also Iran's first win at the World Cup.
Iran swallowed England 2-6 in the first match but bounced back in the second game by beating Wales 2-0.
On the other hand, the first two US matches ended in a draw, 0-0 each against England and 1-1 against Wales.
Even though they have often entered the finals of the Iranian World Cup, they have never passed the group stage.
The US is fighting again in the World Cup after failing to enter the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.
Defender DeAndre Yedlin is the only US player with experience in appearing in the World Cup.
By risking a place in the knockout stages of the system, there will be additional significance for politically charged matches.
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