USA Through To World Cup Knockout Stage

It was a hard-fought win, but it was a win, and with that the USMNT advanced to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

It was a must-win situation for both the USA and Iran, and the build up added to the tension. Press conferences turned away form football for a period with some strange lines of political questioning that the USA’s captain Tyler Adams did well to field and, to a degree, deflect back to the reason why they were there - to win the game. There was also a request for the USA to be expelled from the tournament after they had posted across its social media, an Iranian flag that had the emblem of the Islamic Republic removed from it, in support of the current protests in the country. It’s hard to judge if this also acted as a motivating factor, or indeed added fuel to the Iranians’ approach to the game.

It was always going to be a tense occasion, even without the sideline dramas. And so it proved, but it was a first half that saw the USA taking the game to their opponents. Christian Pulisic broke the deadlock with the game’s only goal. Such is “Captain America”’s hunger to get through to the next round he injured himself scoring the goal, sustaining an abdominal strain.

The 38th minute’s goal came after several chances were squandered. Timothy Weah was guilty of a couple of glaring misses, then Pulisic struck after good work by Weston McKennie’s good work was followed up by the attacking Sergiño Dest.

Iran was brighter in the second half (as they had to be, facing elimination) and had a great chance late in the game but a header, which on another day could easily gone the right side of the post, went narrowly wide. There were calls for a penalty in stoppage time, but after a VAR check which had all the US players, staff and fans holding their breath, it was waved away.

The result means that the USMNT finishes in second place in Group B behind England, with whom they drew in the middle game of the group. England swept aside Wales in their last game with a second half performance that showed why they are one of the favorites to win the World Cup.

The path is becoming clearer as the second-round spaces fill up. The USA know they face another tough test in this next round. On Saturday at 3pm they face the Netherlands, a team that drew its opening game against Ecuador 1-1, then followed up with two 2-0 wins against Senegal (who also qualified and face England on Sunday evening) and Qatar. If the USA get through, they will play Argentina or Australia in the quarter-finals.

Read more about the USMNT World Cup Squad here >>