Iran Walks Into America at War — The White Roses of 1998

History Onion · 2:50

On June 15, 2026, Iran plays the first World Cup match it has ever played on American soil — while the two countries are at war. Staff visas denied, fan tickets revoked, the team sleeping in Tijuana and crossing the border on match day. These two countries have met before. June 21, 1998, Lyon: Khamenei ordered his players not to walk toward the Americans — so the Americans walked to them. White roses, one shared photograph, and Iran's first World Cup victory ever. That night millions filled the streets of Tehran. Twenty-eight years later to the day, Iran plays again — inside the United States. Some scenes are cinematic reconstructions of documented events. All quotes, dates, and sources are historically verified.