The USMNT team qualified for the World Cup knock-out stage by winning 1-0 in a U.S. VS Iran match that was avidly followed by many soccer lovers.

Iran has never advanced to the World Cup knockout round, where the original 32 teams reduce by half.  Although the U.S. men’s team has, progressing to the next level was a major objective since the group didn’t make it in the last World Cup four years ago.

To advance to the Round of 16, the United States had to defeat Iran. Next, the Americans will play the Netherlands on Saturday. Iran only needed to tie to move on to the next stage after beating Wales 2-0 earlier in the competition.

Given the strained relations between the United States and Iran, the tournament ramifications for both teams, and the disputes surrounding the continuing human rights protest movement in Iran that has spread to Qatar, Tuesday’s match attracted a lot of attention.

Iranian fans divided during the U.S. vs Iran Match

Since Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old lady, died while being held by the police, hundreds of thousands of Iranians have protested in the streets. The authoritarian government has not faced a greater protest since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

Iranian fans, some of whom had traveled to Qatar to support their team and protest movement back home, were highly emotional during Tuesday’s World Cup match between Iran and the United States.

Officials and spectators were also keeping an eye out for any potential clashes between Iranian and U.S. supporters. of the U.S. administration and Iranian supporters of the domestic protest movement. There was reported harassment of demonstrators by pro-government supporters outside one of the stadiums earlier in the tournament.

Before the game, Iranian and American supporters had yelled insults at one another outside Al Thumama Stadium. However, strong security was in place, and fans coming to the stadium could clearly feel its presence, averting any potential tussle.

As soon as the game started, the roughly 44,000 spectators in the stadium filled the air with noise and cheer, giving the impression that there were more people there than there really were.

The U.S. team’s only goal and what took place later on

The American team’s Christian Pulisic scored the game’s sole goal in the 38th minute. However, he literally plunged himself into the goal and risked his own body in the process. The goal temporarily energized the fans. But when Pulisic struggled to stand and eventually needed assistance leaving the field, the noise level dropped.

Brenden Aaronson replaced him after he was forced to leave the game due to an abdominal injury.

As the first half came to a close, Timothy Weah scored again for the Americans. But the goal was offside, maintaining the score at 1-0.

Both teams then opened up the game and made goals-scoring runs in the second half, but neither was successful.

To secure the victory, the Americans stopped the bus for more than nine minutes of stoppage time. Iran had a good opportunity with roughly five minutes remaining but missed wide to the right.  Iran almost got a penalty near the end of the game, but that was not to be.

The United States has now advanced to the knockout stage for the seventh time.

Next in the knock-out stage for the U.S.

The Netherlands, who won Group A, will now face the United States in the tournament’s knockout phase. That’s because the U.S. finished second in Group B. The match will take place on Saturday, December 3, at 10 am ET.