World Cup Tensions? U.S. Could Face Iran In This Very Possible Scenario

BreakingBusinessWorld Cup Tensions? U.S. Could Face Iran In This Very Possible ScenarioByAntonio Pequeño IV,Forbes Staff. Pequeño is a breaking news reporter who covers tech and more.Follow AuthorJun 11, 2026, 03:48pm EDTToplineThe World Cup began Thursday afternoon, kicking off over a month’s worth of matches that could potentially see the U.S. and Iranian national teams face off in Texas as their respective countries teeter between war and peace — and years after tensions last flared between the two teams over social politics.The hypothetical match would take place in Texas.Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/Getty ImagesKey FactsThe U.S. men’s national team has been placed in Group D alongside Turkey, Australia and Paraguay, and is favored to advance through the group stage ahead of or behind Turkey, which is being led by a young and talented attacking core.Iran’s team will have a much tougher task in Group G, where they will face Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.If the U.S. and Iran both place second in their respective group stages, where the top two teams advance into the tournament’s knockout stage, they will play each other on July 3 in the round of 32.The hypothetical match would take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The last time the two teams faced off, in 2022, political tensions erupted and Iran requested the U.S. be removed from the World Cup. if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; window.cnxel.cmd = []; var iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.onload = function() { var iframeDoc = iframe.contentWindow.document; var script = iframeDoc.createElement('script'); script.src = '//cd.elements.video/player.js?cid=62cec241-7d09-4462-afc2-f72f8d8ef40a'; script.setAttribute('defer', '1'); script.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); iframeDoc.body.appendChild(script); }; document.head.appendChild(iframe); const preloadResourcesEndpoint = 'https://cds.elements.video/a/preload-resources-ovp.json'...