DOHA, Qatar — On Monday, United States men’s national team manager Gregg Berhalter was asked to be, among other things, an economist, a customs agent, an expert on military policy and a United Nations ambassador.
On Tuesday, he finally got to be what he most wanted: A coach who’s taken his team to the knockout rounds of the World Cup.
After the USA held off Iran, 1-0, at Al Thumama Stadium, Berhalter embraced his coaching staff in a group bear hug in the technical area, their arms wrapped tightly around each others’ shoulders as they bounced up and down. He then jogged out on to the field to bask in the celebration with his players and the raucous contingent of American fans behind the goal.
Four years after taking over a program in disarray, Berhalter had brought the US through in what is, by some distance, the biggest win of his career.
“It’s the first time in 92 years that we’ve had two shutouts at a World Cup,” Berhalter said later, his face flushed. “So, the boys are doing something right.”
It was a remarkable 24 hours for Berhalter, the type of incredible juxtaposition that can exist only in international soccer — and only with a matchup like the one the US had against Iran, a country whose history, both on its own and with the United States, is deep and complicated and messy.
That history is what fueled the build-up. The U.S. Soccer Federation played no small part in the uncomfortableness ahead of the game, as it — without the knowledge of Berhalter or his players — posted images to social media that showed Iran’s flag without the Islamic Republic logo in an attempt to show support for women in Iran who are fighting for the most basic human rights.
Well-intentioned as it may have been, it nonetheless created a firestorm, and Berhalter was left to try and navigate it. At his news conference on Monday, Iranian journalists volleyed harsh questions at him, asking him to explain why inflation might contribute to a lack of popularity for his team back home or to justify the various visa requirements that the United States has for Iranians who might want to travel there. There was a question about U.S. warships in the region.
It was, by any measure, bizarre, but Berhalter — to his credit — handled it deftly. He apologized for any offense the social media posts might have caused while expressing support for those who are fighting for a better life. He also did his best to push the focus back to soccer. In many ways, this match was judgment day for Berhalter and his players at the end of a four-year resurrection, and Berhalter needed to do whatever he could to make sure his players were up for it.
