Iran breezed through qualifying, but the road to the finals has been anything but smooth, with off-pitch tensions briefly clouding whether they'd even take their place. Amir Ghalenoei's side will base themselves in Mexico while their three group games unfold across the US, leaving the coaching staff to wrestle with logistics as much as tactics. The flexibility is real, though — this is a team that can shift its shape mid-tournament and trust its talisman to make the difference.