Iran hopes history will repeat itself at this November's FIFA World Cup in Qatar, 24 years after overcoming a fractious build-up to score a memorable triumph over the United States — the country's decades-long geopolitical rival — in France.
As the teams prepare to clash again, and their governments wrangle over reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear pact, Team Melli's preparations have been thrown into turmoil by a divided squad and maneuvering over its leadership.
The re-election on Tuesday of former President Mehdi Taj to the top job at the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) has heightened expectations that Dragan Skocic will lose his job at the helm of the team with less than three months remaining until the World Cup kicks off.