The USA, Iran, & the god of football: a World Cup press conference for the ages

The USA v Iran match day -1 press conference was one for the ages. From politics to possibility to the god that rules over it. Notes from a wild afternoon.

When Iran was drawn into a World Cup group with the United States, the obvious implications were understood by the public. In a sport so fraught in the cultural and political, these two would have no shortage of qualms.

Still, the manager and actual players have tried to limit the game to, you know, soccer. Those hopes crumbled today in vain.