Of all the strange possibilities the World Cup brings to North Texas, the one that has our attention is a potential match-up between the U.S. and Iran.
It’s a long shot, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
If both nations finish second in their groups following matchplay, they will face each other in the Round of 32 in Arlington on July 3.
The match would come freighted with incredible political significance, and with an emphasis on the struggles of athletes in a nation that is not free. We know that Iran’s women’s team has already faced fear and possible retribution for signaling their support for freedom.
Iran deserves to become a nation unshackled from its theocrats and violent regime. A World Cup meeting between our two countries offers a chance to demonstrate, respectfully, what it means for a free people to welcome athletes who live under authoritarianism.
Iran and the United States are currently at war, but we believe Iranian athletes are also playing for a nation which does not represent them. Too often that’s misunderstood.
Politically oppressive countries regularly use sports to assert themselves on a global stage. In the case of Iran, it is no secret that the nation has used soccer as an outlet to push its political narrative.
At the 2022 World Cup, a match between the United States and Iran created headlines when the Iranian government threatened the families of players with “violence and torture” if they didn’t “behave” against the United States.
This is not how sports should be played. In America, we understand that sports can offer an escape from the reality of everyday life. For both athletes and fans, sports are freeing.
Hopefully, the World Cup will provide those on the Iranian team with the chance to experience a sense of real freedom. These young athletes have dedicated themselves to their sport, and they want to have the opportunity to play without being treated as instruments by their own government. This is something they should be afforded.
Our part, as a region, would be to welcome them warmly and treat them respectfully. North Texas should be prepared throughout these games to represent the best of who we are as free citizens.
Dallas-Fort Worth is already known for the hospitality it provides visitors; a World Cup match should only amplify that, regardless of the ongoing war between our countries.
Iran’s World Cup team has earned the opportunity to play on this stage, and hopefully the experience will show the power that sports can have in creating a reality away from an oppressive government.
