Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Buoyed by a 2-0 win over Wales, Iran will look to seal their place in the knockout stages when they take on USA at Al Thumama Stadium. Carlos Queiroz’s troops proved their worth in their second group game, and they must be high on spirits ahead of the decider. The good news for the nominal hosts is that goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand should recover in time to face the Yanks.
Meanwhile, USA did well to hold England to a goalless draw in Al Khor, but they face a must-win situation in Tuesday’s showdown. Since Gregg Berhalter’s men are likely to adopt an attack-minded approach in the last group game, we predict that pacey Iran forwards will seal the triumph on the break. There are no fresh injury worries in the away team, but Leeds United midfielder Brenden Aaronson could sneak into the starting line-up.
Highlighted Player (Alireza Jahanbakhsh):
Born in Jirandeh, Iran on August 11 1990, Alireza Jahanbakhsh is a footballer who plays for AZ Alkmaar in Holland. Before AZ, Jahanbakhsh played for NEC in the Eredivisie, but he began his youth career at Payam Alborz Qazvin. Speaking of his senior debut, he made it with Damash Tehran in the 2010/2011 season.
In 2011 he moved to fellow Iranian club Damash Gilan and it has to be noted that he scored 10 goals in 44 appearances in the league for the club. The AZ Alkmaar winger, who is used as an attacking midfielder as well, scored 21 goals in 33 appearances in the Eredivisie in the 2017/2018 season. Speaking of his international career, Alireza JahanBakhsh scored two goals for Iran on the road to Russia and he will represent his homeland at the 2018 FIFA world cup finals.
Due to his style of play, Jahanbakhsh has always been compared to legendary Iranian footballer Mehdi Mahdavikia.
Highlighted Team (Iran):
Iranian Football Federation was founded back in 1920. The Team Melli played their first match not before August, 1941, when they faced British India in Kabul. The Iranians emerged triumphant in the game (1-0) and two days later they played their first FIFA international match against Afghanistan. In 1968 the Iranians won their first trophy, with the team lifting the Asian Cup title.
The Iranians repeated the success four years later and, to make things even better, they won the 1976 Asian Cup trophy as well. Speaking of their participation at the FIFA World Cup finals, Iran booked their place at the showpiece tournament for the first time in 1978. The Team Melli then missed the next four major tournaments before qualifying for the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals in France.
The Iranians participated at the 2006 and the 2014 tournaments as well and they did well to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia. Iran footballers wear white shirts and white shorts when playing at home, while the colour of their away kits is red.