United States beat Iran 1-0 in battle of geopolitical foes to reach the knockout phase of World Cup.

DOHA- The United States beat Iran 1-0 in a battle of geopolitical foes to reach the knockout phase of the World Cup on Tuesday while England eased through against Wales.

The Americans earned a second round meeting with the Netherlands after Christian Pulisic bundled the ball into the net in the 38th minute of an absorbing contest in Doha.

Only the third international meeting of the bitter ideological rivals had been marked by a bad-tempered buildup.

Iran s Football Federation had on Sunday demanded that FIFA punish US Soccer for posting a modified version of their country s flag on social media.