Iranian FA Trolls USA After World Cup Exit: 'Football Beat Politics'

The Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation couldn't resist a dig at the United States after Gregg Berhalter's side crashed out of the 2026 World Cup in the Round of 16, losing 4-1 to Belgium. In a pointed social media post, the Iranian governing body shared a screenshot comparing Belgium's matches against both the USA and Iran. 'The whole world celebrates after politics lost to football,' the post read, a clear reference to the long-standing political tensions between the two nations that often spill over onto the pitch. Iran themselves had lost to Belgium in the group stage, but that didn't stop them from enjoying the Americans' early exit. While Iran's defeat to the Red Devils was expected, USA's heavy loss came as a shock after a promising group campaign. The Iranian FA chose to pour salt on the wound, highlighting the political undertones that have defined meetings between these two countries in World Cup history. Football, as the saying goes, had the final word.