Primarily because our stupid US Soccer Federation posted a defaced Iranian flag as a virtue signal. They’re playing politics with our team and creating nothing but a distraction.

quote:
Gregg Berhalter, the United States coach, and captain Tyler Adams issued a double apology to Iran during an extraordinary press conference in which he was tackled by journalists on racism in the US, his country’s immigration policy, inflation and the US military fleet in the Persian Gulf.

quote:
An already charged political backdrop was ignited on Sunday after the US Football Federation posted a picture of the Iranian flag without the symbol of Allah, sparking a formal complaint from the Iran Football Federation and a demand from some media outlets that USA are thrown out of the tournament.

quote:
Berhalter made no attempt to defend the Instagram posting - or indeed hide an internal rift over the issue - and immediately apologised and said that it was nothing to do with him or the players. He then issued a second apology after an Iranian journalist corrected his pronunciation of Iran during an astonishing series of pointed questions on social and economic problems in the US.

quote:
To applause from Iranian journalists, manager Carlos Queiroz had himself earlier delivered a long monologue in which he referenced children being shot in schools - a major issue in America - while arguing that the lesson of the World Cup should be to focus on the “90 minutes to make people happy”. “This World Cup will, I hope, be a good lesson for us in the future that our mission here is to create entertainment and at least for 90 minutes make people happy.”

quote:
Berhalter duly then found himself fielding question after question on issues in American politics and society. Asked about the “disrespectful” and “unprofessional” flag incident, Berhalter said: “We had no idea about what US Soccer put out. All we can do is apologise on behalf of the players and staff. It is not something we are part of. Some things are out of our control. We don't want to sound aloof, not caring - all of our thoughts are with the Iranain people, the whole team, everyone - but our focus is on the match.”

quote:
Adams, sat next to Berhalter, was then asked whether he was “OK to be representing a country which has so much discrimination against black people”. He answered: “There is discrimination everywhere you go. In the US we are continuing to make progress every day. I grew up in a white family with an African-American background. Education is super important. You educated me now on the pronouncement of your country.”

I think it’s important to note that Adams is a 22 year old captain who was tossed a softball to bash his country and instead he handled it with measured but pointed maturity and skill.

quote:
Another question had begun by asking “why does your government not take away its military fleet from the Persian Gulf?” while another journalist wanted to know why, as an American, Berhalter was “more than welcome” in Iran but that people with an Iranian passport could not automatically enter the USA. “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,” said Berhalter, who added that sport can bring people together to “compete as brothers”.

quote:
The problem of inflation in America was also asked in the context of whether USA fans “do not support you or do not care about the team”.

You give political, you get political.

Maybe just focus on the game?

Daily Telegraph (pay)