The ideological tension between these nations seems to be more present than ever and this became clear when the captain of the US team Tyler Adams had the turn to answer some questions from an Iranian journalist, who took the space to criticize the player.
During the press conference, Tyler was adamant. He said he agreed with the protests in Iran and offered some positive words. But, the communicator threw several darts directly at Adams: “You say you support the Iranians, but you mispronounce the name of the country. Our country is pronounced Iran, not Airan. So once and for all let’s make that clear,” the Iranian journalist told him.
Do you feel comfortable representing a country with so much discrimination against African-American people within its borders and where the Black Lives Matter movement took place?
With the critical pointing of the Iranian, the player maintained his position. However, the communicator insisted with a more incisive attitude: “Do you feel comfortable representing a country with so much discrimination against African-American people? within its borders and where the movement took place Black Lives Matter?” he asked.
Something I have learned living abroad in recent years and having to adapt to different cultures
“My apologies for my mispronunciation,” Adams began. “That being said, there is discrimination everywhere. One thing I have learned living abroad in recent years and having to adapt to different cultures, is that in the United States we continue to make progress every day. I grew up in a white family, with obviously African American rootsso I was educated in different cultures and it was very easy for me to assimilate different customs” added the captain of the stars and stripes.
It is a process and as long as there is progress that is the most important thing.
“Not everyone has had that advantage or possibility (…) It is something that they have taught me, as with the way in which your country is pronounced. It is a process and as long as there is progress that’s the most important thing,” Adams added.
The young Tyler Adams captain of the United States 🇺🇸 did not fall into the trap that the Iranian journalist sets for him, and instead, he gives a lesson about respect for other cultures 🇮🇷 and apologizes for his bad pronunciation and responds to him about discrimination in his country . Spectacular. pic.twitter.com/iueIHOkYIR
—Veronica Brunati (@verobrunati)
November 29, 2022
The American’s response was applauded by the international press and provided an alternative to dialogue with this participation.
Both Iran and the United States meet in their last game of the first round to survive in a group they share with Wales and England.