Iran’s soccer federation on Sunday protested the removal of the “sign of Allah” from Iran’s flag by the US Soccer Federation ahead of Tuesday’s 2022 World Cup match between the two teams, AFP reported.

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The United States and Iran will play their qualifier on Tuesday in a highly political duel as the Iranians sit second in Group B, a point ahead of the Americans and a point behind England.

“The Iranian Football Federation has sent an email to FIFA asking it to issue a serious warning to the American federation,” the official Irna news agency reported.

“In an unprofessional act, the US Soccer Federation’s Instagram page has removed the symbol of Allah from the Iranian flag,” the official Irna news agency said.

The flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran consists of three colors: green, white, and red, with a stylized form of the word Allah in the center. The word was removed from the flag on the federation’s Instagram page.

The image was used by the US federation “to show its solidarity with the women of Iran” and “only in this case”, the official said. “The flag has never been changed on the website of the federation,” he said.

Iran and the USA remembered the 1998 World Cup with scenes of brotherhood between the players of the two countries.

The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since 1980, months after the US embassy in Tehran was taken hostage in November 1979.

The incident came as Iran became the scene of a protest movement sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who died after being arrested by moral police in Tehran.

What happened on Saturday at the World Cup 2022 in Qatar: France beat Denmark to reach the 1/8 finals / Big win for Argentina

Sunday matches of the World Cup-2022 Qatar

Japan vs. Costa Rica 0-1

Belgium – Morocco 0-2

Croatia – Canada (from 18:00)

Spain – Germany (from 21:00).