France’s relationship with its diverse soccer-playing population is sometimes fraught, sometimes not. World Cup performance is a big part of the equation.
Another World Cup, another set of questions regarding Mexico getting over the round-of-16 hump. Despite El Tri’s shaky qualifying campaign and injury woes, their star has belief.
As tensions flare at home, there are factions who don’t think Iran should be at the World Cup at all, but Team Melli is there, and its stance is being projected to a global audience.