 Arranged by the United States Department of State after an invitation by the Iranian Athletic Association for a diplomatic soccer tour of the country during the college's 1951 Easter break, the reigning 1950 National Champions Penn State were slated to play three goodwill games in Iran in the midst of the Cold War.Complications arose weeks before the Nittany Lions were set to start their tour when Iranian Prime Minister Haj Ali Razmara was assassinated.After safety consideration, the team and games were allowed to go ahead as planned.