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Blam! The US Men’s National Soccer Team advanced Tuesday to the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup by beating Iran 1-0.

Christian Pulisic went all-out to turn a pass from Sergino Dest into the winning goal, staying in the game despite his injury before getting subbed out in the second half as his teammates held off a furious Iranian attack.

This success is sure to feed Americans’ growing interest in what other nations call “football”: Fox Sports’ broadcast of Friday’s opening game against England already set a new record for US soccer viewership, with more than 15.3 million sets tuned in — eclipsing the old record of 14.5 million for the US-set finale of the 1994 Cup.

Iran only needed a tie to grab the bracket’s No. 2 slot and send the Americans home. But it’s the Iranians headed home — under a cloud. The team heroically sided with the protesters back home as the tournament began — then had to meet with the regime’s notorious Revolutionary Guard after they refused to sing the national anthem before their first match.


  Iran needed a tie to advance further in the competition. REUTERS Iran needed a tie to advance further in the competition. REUTERS

Reportedly, their families were “threatened with imprisonment and torture” if the players didn’t “behave” Tuesday. Now they have to worry if a loss to “the Great Satan” was the final straw.

Cheer America’s heroes, but say a prayer for Iran’s.

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