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It's June 1998 in the French city of Lyon.

Two football teams, or soccer teams, if you like,

have gathered for what's being called

probably the most politically charged

match in the history of the World Cup. Iran are about to play the USA in the group stages

of the 1998 tournament. And in Lyon, the fans sound pretty chilled. It's all about football, nothing to do with politics.

You know, the politicians screwed up the relations between the two countries 20 years ago,

and they haven't been able to fix it since then.

But there's a ton of pressure coming down from the top.

A US official has called this, quote,

the mother of all games.

Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei has ordered his players not to walk towards the Americans

to shake hands before the game as protocol dictates.

And Bill Clinton is laying it on thick.

As we cheer today's game between American and Iranian athletes,

I hope it can be another step toward ending the estrangement between our nations.

There was a huge security operation around the match,

but when the players took to the pitch on midsummer's night,

they shook hands normally.

They had their photo taken together, and then they played.

Iran won 2-1, their first ever World Cup victory.

...