U.S. football diplomacy
June 24, 2014
Steven Beitashour had only ever been to Iran twice as a child when he boarded a plane to Tehran as a 26-year-old to play soccer. Last October, he formally joined the Iranian national soccer team in preparation for the country's fourth appearance on soccer's largest stage.
![commons.wikimedia.org_stephen_beitashour_SJ_earthquakes Steven Beitashour](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/Steven_Beitashour_SJ_Earthquakes_vs_Galaxy.jpg?itok=qAsoDbOA)
June 24, 2014
The complex allegiances of Steven Beitashour, the Iranian team's American player.