Iran’s World Cup team gets tepid welcome home, amid protests

Associated Press

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iran’s national soccer team has received a subdued welcome home with a few dozen fans greeting them at the capital Tehran’s airport and waving flags following their World Cup defeat by the U.S. team. The players returned to Iran Wednesday evening to a country still reeling from unrest from monthslong demonstrations after the death of a young woman in police custody. Iran’s treatment of the players will likely be scrutinized because they did not sing the country’s national anthem during their opening match. It was a move many considered to be a show of solidarity with anti-government protesters. The players did sing the anthem in subsequent games.