IRANIAN journalists have bombarded the US World Cup team with politically motivated questions in a press conference ahead of the two sides meeting in the tournament.
Captain Tyler Adams and coach Gregg Berhalter fielded questions from the Iranian press pack which had little to do with the match set to be held in Qatar’s Al Thumama stadium tomorrow night.
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Seemingly ignoring the whole point of the press conference, the US pair were quizzed about a number of topics unrelated to football, including if the players were representing a racist country, US visa rules in place against Iranian citizens and the country’s naval presence in the Persian Gulf, amongst others.
Even Adams’ American pronunciation of ‘aye-ran’ came under fire during the 30-minute press conference which proved to be a highly charged encounter.
It comes after the US soccer federation displayed Iran’s national flag on social media without the emblem of the Islamic Republic, in support of the anti-regime protests which have been taking place in the country.
The move caused Iran’s government to call on FIFA to expel Team USA from the tournament.
The first question from an Iranian journalist set the tone for the rest of the encounter.
Addressing Berhalter, the reporter asked: “What percentage of the world’s population will be happy if Iran wins this match [versus a US national team (USMNT) victory]?” forcing the coach to try and mediate the tension.
“For us it’s a soccer game against a good team – it’s not much more than that,” Berhalter replied, attempting the skirt the political implications of the question.
A few minutes later, a journalist from the English language Iranian news organisation Press TV fired off: “First of all you say you support the Iranian people but you’re pronouncing our country’s name wrong. Our country is name Iran, not ‘’aye-ran’.
“Second of all, are you okay to be representing your country that has so much discrimination against black people in its own borders?”
Adams, who has a White American mum and a biological father who is African-American, refused to take the bait.
He replied: “My apologies on the mispronunciation of your country. That being said, there’s discrimination everywhere you go… in the US we’re continuing to make progress every single day… as long as you make progress that’s the most important thing.”
There was a brief reprieve from the onslaught when a US reporter said he intended to ask a “soccer question”.
But it didn’t last long, with the Iranian media returning to ask about political issues.
One journalist asked: “Sport is something that should bring nations closer together and you are a sportsperson. Why is it that you should not ask your government to take away its military fleet from the Persian Gulf?”
Berhalter responded: “I agree, sport is something that should bring countries together… you get to compete as brothers,” making comparisons between the Olympics and the World Cup, but avoided touching on the strained relations between the US and Iran.
By the end of the encounter Berhalter appeared to have grown tired of the questioning and when asked about the strict US laws for Iranian citizens, he simply replied: “I don’t know enough about politics, I’m a soccer coach.
“I’m not well versed on international politics so I can’t comment on that.”
Meanwhile, Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said he hoped the next World Cup would feature less about politics and more about football, adding there were better ways to use sport as a force for good.
Iran’s team have been pulled into the political turmoil at home, facing pressure from protesters, who want to change the legitimacy of the country’s clerical rulers, to side with them publicly and condemn the ongoing state crackdown.
He was asked about the US soccer federation temporarily showing Iran’s national flag without the emblem of the Islamic Republic, in a move to show support for the protesters.
Queiroz told a news conference: “I still believe I can win games with those mental games.
“Those events surrounding this World Cup I hope will be a lesson for all of us in the future and we learn that our mission is here to create entertainment and for 90 minutes make people happy.”
For the US side, they face a simple objective – win their final Group B game or they go home.
They have to secure the three points for a win to continue their World Cup adventure.
“It sets up our first knockout game of the World Cup,” US coach Gregg Berhalter said.
“We win or we’re out of the World Cup. Anytime you’re in a World Cup and you get to go into the last group game in control of your own destiny, that’s a pretty good thing.”
GROUP B SITUATION
USA is currently third in the group with two points after drawing their games against Wales and England but only the top two sides in the group games advance.
In the same group, England has four points, Iran three and Wales is currently bottom with one point.
Iran only needs a tie in their next match to advance, as long as Wales does not pull off an upset and defeat England.
Iran took a thumping in their opening group game, losing 6-2 to England but came back in their next match with a 2-0 victory over Wales.
“I really have to thank the Iranian fans. They helped us play 90 minutes of beautiful football,” Queiroz said.
“Now, we have to concentrate on the USA. We haven’t finished yet.”
In the only other previous World Cup encounter between the US and Iran in 1998, Iran came out 2-1 winners.
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