Previous meetings

* With a spot in the knockout stages at stake, there will be added significance to a politically charged clash.

* The geopolitical rivals have met once before at a World Cup in France 1998 in what at the time was dubbed “The Mother of All Games”. * Iran’s 2-1 win over the U.S. that day was their first ever victory at a World Cup.

* Prior to the match Iran presented the U.S. team with white roses.

* The two sides have met just twice before with the U.S. having yet to win. Iran won their first meeting 2-1 at the 1998 World Cup before drawing 1-1 in an international friendly in 2000.