United States manager Gregg Berhalter and captain Tyler Adams faced a barrage of questions from Iranian journalists on Monday.
The US and Iran face each other at the Al Thumama Stadium on Tuesday in a crucial World Cup clash. The winner of the game will progress to the knockout stages, while Iran can also qualify with a draw if Wales fail to beat England in Group B's other match.
Most of the questions from the Iranian journalists were based on geopolitical issues rather than Tuesday's fixture. Berhalter and Adams were quizzed on systematic racism in the USA - with one reporter suggesting they represent a 'racist' country - and other topics.
Tensions were raised between Iran and the US after the latter's social media team published an image of the Iranian flag without the emblem of the Islamic Republic. The Iranian government have called for the US to be kicked out of the World Cup as a result.
Berhalter was asked: "What percentage of the world's population will be happy if Iran wins this match?"
The US boss replied: "For us it's a soccer game against a good team - it's not much more than that."
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Adams was then hammered for his pronunciation or Iran. A journalist asked: "First of all you say you support the Iranian people but you're pronouncing our country's name wrong. Our country is name Iran, not 'aye-ran'...
"Second of all, are you okay to be representing your country that has so much discrimination against black people in its own borders?"
Adams replied: "My apologies on the mispronunciation of your country. That being said, there's discrimination everywhere you go... in the US. we're continuing to make progress every single day... as long as you make progress that's the most important thing."
Next came a question on USA's military presence in the Persian Gulf. The reporter asked: "Sport is something that should bring nations closer together and you are a sportsperson. Why is it that you should not ask your government to take away its military fleet from the Persian Gulf?"
Berhalter replied: "I agree, sport is something that should bring countries together... you get to compete as brothers."
Berhalter eventually hit back at the geopolitical questions after being asked about USA's strict visa laws for Iranian citizens. He said: "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."
Politics aside, Berhalter is confident his team can reach the knockout stages. He said: "It [the Iran game] sets up our first knockout game of the World Cup. We win or we're out of the World Cup. Anytime you're in a World Cup and you get to go into the last group game in control of your own destiny, that's a pretty good thing."
