USA vs Iran World Cup press conference turns into discussion on race, human rights, and geopolitics

The USA vs. Iran group finale is a high-stakes match with both nations looking to secure a spot in the knockout stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

On the field, the task for both sides is clear: the United States must win to advance, while Iran moves on with a win or draw. There is no scenario in which both teams can qualify for the knockout stage.

Off the field, things have been just as tense. The international relationship between the two nations has been strained for decades, and that has often spilled over into the sports world, especially during international play between the two countries on the soccer pitch. In 1998, the two countries met at the World Cup, and some media dubbed it “the most politically charged game in World Cup history” (although that’s probably a bit of a stretch).

With the next meeting on Tuesday, things got tense again in the pre-match press conferences with head coaches Carlos Queiroz and Gregg Berhalter of the USA. Both were targeted with questions you wouldn’t normally expect, many from Iranian journalists, that focused largely on off-field topics rather than the match at hand.

MORE: Watch USA vs. Iran and every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

USA soccer press conference: What Berhalter, Adams said

WATCH: Full USA press conference here on FIFA’s official website

When it was the USA’s turn, head coach Gregg Berhalter and captain Tyler Adams had to field a barrage of questions focusing on the political relationship between the nations.

One came from a journalist who asked Berhalter that if sports should bring people together, why he hasn’t asked president Joe Biden to remove a naval fleet from around the Persian Gulf.

Berhalter said, “I agree sport is something that should bring people together. Fans come from all around the world and you get to compete on the field as brothers. Sport does have the ability to do that.”

The line of questions by Iranian journalists appeared to seek to highlight social strife in the United States in light of Americans’ criticism of the treatment of women in Iran, with protests in the Persian nation making international headlines.

MORE: Betting odds, predictions, and tips ahead of USA vs. Iran in World Cup Group B

Adams made his position clear, saying “We support Iran’s people and Iran’s team, but that being said we’re laser focused on this match as well. We know how important this is to the progress of our team and what we want to prove to our country, and we know they want to do exactly the same.”

Adams was then chastised by a reporter for his pronunciation of Iran (it is “ee-rahn” not “eye-ran”), and subsequently asked by the same reporter, “Are you ok to be representing your country that has so much discrimination against Black people in its borders?” The U.S. captain answered this question with aplomb.

“There’s discrimination everywhere you go. One thing that I’ve learned, especially living abroad these past years having to fit into different cultures, is that in the U.S. we’re continuing to make progress every single day. I grew up in a white family with an African American heritage and background. So I was very easily able to assimilate into different cultures. Not everyone has that ease and the ability to do that, and through education I think it’s super important, like you just educated me right now on the pronunciation of your country.”

One Iranian journalist asked Berhalter what percentage of the world would be happy if the U.S. wins and the percentage that would be happy if Iran wins. Berhalter handled that one smoothly, saying “I know a lot of other constituents have another feeling towards it, but for us, it’s a soccer game against a good team, and it’s not much more than that.”

When focusing about the on-field play, Berhalter had praise for Iran and how they play. “I like what Iran has done so far, especially in the last game [against Wales], [they showed] a lot of commitment, really good counter-attacking, and we expect it to be a hotly contested game and we’ll be ready for it..”

There were also a few questions focused on the social media post that U.S. Soccer put out the previous day which featured the Group B standings. The image featured the Iranian flag, but without the Islamic Republic emblem in the middle. U.S. Soccer then claimed the image was created by design to support the protests in the nation, but it was later taken down after causing intense controversy.

MORE: USA vs. Iran flag controversy, explained

“We had no idea about what U.S. Soccer put out,” Berhalter said. “The staff, the players had no idea. Our focus is on this match. I don’t want to sound aloof or not caring by saying that, but our guys have worked really hard for the last four years, we have 72 hours between England and Iran, and we really are just focused on how to get past Iran. Of course our thoughts are with their people [of Iran], but our focus is on this match.”

What did Iran’s Carlos Queiroz say ahead of USA vs Iran?

WATCH: Iran press conference on FIFA’s official website

First up at the press conference was Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz, who was aggressive in his assessment of the U.S. both on and off the field.

Before Queiroz even sat down alongside player Karim Ansarifard, there was extensive applause from a significant portion of the Iranian journalism contingent, who continued to applaud his responses to questions throughout the press conference, particularly in his responses regarding a U.S. social media post from the day before.

From the start, Queiroz emphasized how “special” this match is for him given he had previously worked in Major League Soccer to help grow the game in the United States, and that he thinks it’s an “honor and privilege” to play against the U.S. in this match.

But the coach didn’t mince words, saying how the U.S. has “advanced from soccer to football,” saying “with these words I think I’ve said it all.”

The most noteworthy statement that Queiroz made was a suggestion that he believed the Iran squad wants qualification to the knockout stage more than the United States. “For us, Iran, in this case to be in the second round [knockout stage], would be the first time in six World Cup qualifications. So it’s a motivation that is probably stronger than the United States because they did that in 1994. So for us it’s more special than them.”

Queiroz did also state that the USA, in his mind, was “the most consistent team” in Group B through the two matches so far. “I hope tomorrow my boys will be able to put together the soul, the skills, and the will to win.” He continued later by stating it’s a “fact” that the U.S. put forth “the best two performances in the group.”

Finally, Queiroz made a fascinating statement about how to approach the match. “If we are not win, it is in the hands of God. The result, it is the God of football, that is not in our control. What is in our control is to be able to put our minds, our fitness, our technique, our tactical expertise, and make it happen with harmony.”

USA vs Iran live stream, TV channel

This final Group B match will be played at the Al Thumama Stadium. Here’s how you can watch all the action in some of the major global territories.

MORE: Watch USA vs. Iran and every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)