The wait is over for the biggest World Cup ever with 48 teams, 104 matches, three host nations and a slew of questions and controversies swirling around the highly scrutinzed event that will last for nearly six weeks.

Few fixtures in World Cup history have carried as much political weight as Iran vs USA, and with a possible rematch on the cards in 2026, memories of that night in 1998 are resurfacing. Decades of tension lay in the background when the two teams met in Lyon.

Iran is at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. So is the United States, as they are one of the hosts. The last time the two sides met at a World Cup event, the Iranians gave white roses to their American counterparts.

The most politically charged games at the World Cup will take place in Group G, but the storylines on the field are compelling, too. While Belgium is the favorite, Egypt and Iran come in with hopes of reaching the knockout round for the first time in their histories.

Iran's participation has become one of the most complex stories of the tournament.