DOHA, 27 Nov. (dpa/EP) –
The United States soccer team has begun to display the Iranian flag without the Islamic Republic shield ahead of the match between the two on the third and final day of the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar.
The two countries, longtime political enemies, will face each other on Tuesday in a decisive match in Group B, in which both North Americans and Asians still have chances to reach the round of 16. Iran defeated the United States 2-1 in the World Cup in France’98.
Iran has experienced anti-government protests and the decision of the United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer) to display that flag on its social media accounts is seen as a sign of support for the protesters.
The use of different flags of Iran has been common during this World Cup. Some Iranians have flown the flag bearing the emblem of the Islamic Republic in an apparent show of support for the government, while others have displayed a completely different flag than the Shah-era.