Iranian journalists bombarded the leaders of the American team with a succession of political inquiries during a press briefing preceding the Tuesday World Cup game between Iran and the United States.
The decisions of the U.S. Government or the U.S. Soccer officials were not impacted by Berhalter and Adams, they stressed that their attention was on the upcoming game. In a press conference that deviated significantly from the usual pre-match conversation, U.S. Head coach Gregg Berhalter and captain Tyler Adams answered questions about the diplomatic relations between the two nations, along with their personal viewpoints on the matter.
During the press conference at the National Convention Center in Qatar on Monday, Adams stated, “We are very focused on this match as well as being said that we are using a laser-like focus. We support the team of Iran and the people of Iran.”
Learn More: Tyler Adams Is the Captain that Team USA Desperately Needs for the World Cup.
In the United States, a journalist from PressTV, who is Iranian, pointed out Adams’ mispronunciation of “Iran” (Adams had pronounced it as “eye-ran” instead of “ee-rahn”) before inquiring about racism in a noteworthy conversation.
The journalist from Press TV, which is owned by the Iranian state, expressed, “Please, let’s clarify this once and for all. Our nation is called Iran, not Iran. You are mispronouncing the name of our country, yet you claim to support the Iranian people. Firstly, I would like to address this.” The reporter from the state further added, “Secondly, are you comfortable representing a country that harbors significant racial discrimination within its own borders, particularly against black individuals?”
Adams immediately apologized for mispronouncing the country’s name, and offered his perspective as an African-American who grew up in a white family.
He stated, “Discrimination is present in every location you visit.” “In the United States, we are consistently making advancements on a daily basis…Through the means of education, I believe it holds great significance. Similar to how you have just enlightened me on the correct pronunciation of your nation. It is an ongoing journey. As long as we witness improvements, that is the utmost crucial aspect.”
An Iranian journalist raised a question about a social media post from the U.S. Soccer Twitter account, which featured an altered image of the Iranian flag without the symbol of the Islamic Republic. (The account later removed the post and subsequently shared the original, unedited flag.)
Berhalter responded, “The staff and players knew nothing about what being posted was.” “Sometimes, things are out of our control. We believe that the result of the match will depend on who puts in more effort and executes better on the field. We are not focused on those things outside of our control. We apologize on behalf of the staff and players.”
Someone even asked Berhalter why he had not pressured the U.S. To remove a specific Naval presence near Iran, despite the fact that it is a widespread practice in accordance with FIFA rules. A reporter called the U.S. Team “unprofessional” for closing its training after 15 minutes of press time, even though it is common for teams to do so. In response, Berhalter cited the high economic inflation and rise in problems within the U.S. Team, claiming that there was no support for the team within the country. One reporter continued to ask oppositional questions. Roughly 20 million people watched the game between England and the American team, according to Berhalter’s response.
Since mid-September, Iranian protesters have been demonstrating against the government, highlighting the abuse of women’s rights in the country. All media in Iran faces tight governmental rules and restrictions, as stated by a mix of journalists and representatives from various sources and media outlets. According to the Reporters Without Borders international group, Iran ranked 178 out of 180 countries in its 2022 Freedom Press Index, indicating the presence of a restrictive media environment.
Iran and the U.S. Will both need to advance or draw in order to win. The team that determines the match between Iran and the U.S. Will move onto the Round of 16 on Tuesday.
Send a message to Julia Zorthian at julia.Zorthian@time.Com.