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Ardalan Pourvali

Contributor, Bay Area

STORIES BY Ardalan Pourvali

Iran

/ 194 days ago

Iran's Carlos Queiroz gets into spat with Jürgen Klinsmann

Iran Head Coach Carlos Queiroz has denounced Jürgen Klinsmann's comments about the Iranian team on a BBC broadcast. During a post-match segment with a co-presenter, Klinsmann rattled off several recent failures on Queiroz's resume with stints as coach of Colombia and Egypt. In contradiction to his own tenure, Klinsmann was terminated by U.S. Soccer in 2016 […]

Iran

/ 196 days ago

Iran regains honor with glorious win over Wales

Iran picked up a crucial and historic win over Wales at Ahmad Ali Stadium on matchday two of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This is Iran's first-ever victory over a European squad on the grand stage. Ultimately, it was a tremendous win for Team Melli, earning three points in Group B. More importantly, it keeps […]

England

/ 200 days ago

Iran blown out by England in disappointing World Cup opener

England throttled Iran, 6-2, in each side's World Cup opener on Monday. This Iran squad does not hold a candle to that fabled Iran 1978 team. That team had class. Instead, the 2022 squad is the antithesis. Rough-edged footballers with aggression. Regardless, Gareth Southgate is delighted with a win that gives the Three Lions three […]

Iran

/ 202 days ago

Iran resilient under media pressure ahead of England match

Iran's national team remains resilient amid the turmoil of their nation. However, since Team Melli arrived in Qatar, the team has been bombarded by the press. Manager stands his ground After being greeted with a cake in Doha, Carlos Queiroz went from elated to ill-tempered during his first press conference. The Portuguese manager offered a […]

Iran

/ 208 days ago

Iran at the World Cup: Squad breakdown

Iran makes their sixth ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup this Fall in Qatar – 200 miles across the Persian Gulf. However, in the past they have never advanced into the Round of 16. Group B will challenge 'Team Melli,' as they anticipate three difficult matchups against England, Wales, and the United States of […]

Leagues: MLS

/ 215 days ago

LAFC win MLS Cup after epic battle with Philadelphia Union

Los Angeles Football Club win the Major League Soccer Championship with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Philadelphia Union. A victory that secures the first championship in the club's history. After 130+ minutes, the match ended in a 3-3 draw. Ultimately, Los Angeles defeated Philadelphia 3-0 in a penalty shootout. A standing ovation of 50,000 […]

LAFC

/ 221 days ago

LAFC reaches first MLS Cup Final with win over Austin FC

In the 2022 season, Austin outscored LAFC 6-2. Despite the Texas capital’s pair of victories over the black & gold, Los Verdes entered the Western Conference Final as overwhelming underdogs. LAFC and Austin went head-to-head with a spot in the MLS Cup Final on the line. On Sunday, former USMNT teammates Steve Cherundolo and Josh […]

LA Galaxy

/ 231 days ago

LAFC lays claim over LA Galaxy with epic playoff win

In 2019, the playoff battle between LAFC v. LA Galaxy ended dramatically, with LAFC the victor, 5-3. The match envenomed the enmity between the cross-county rivals. In 2022, El Tráfico hit the postseason for a galvanizing second edition. Thursday night, the conference semifinal pinned compatriots Carlos Vela versus Javier Hernández– eminent El Tri veterans playing […]

Iran

/ 246 days ago

Iranian players trapped in predicament ahead of World Cup

Historically, the Islamic Republic feared the success of Iranian soccer players at major tournaments, like the World Cup. For decades, the regime maintained ignoble feelings that Iran's success could inspire the masses to pour into the streets in civil unrest. This threatened the security of a watertight Shiite government. As a result, Team Melli never […]

Leagues: La Liga

/ 277 days ago

2030 FIFA World Cup Spain-Portugal bid may win, says UEFA

Despite the joint bid from Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the proposal by Spain-Portugal appears to have an edge to host the world's most significant sports event. The governing body of soccer in Europe, known as UEFA, maintains a confident stance that Spain and Portugal will provide the […]

France

/ 277 days ago

Pogba to undergo knee surgery; World Cup in doubt for France star

Paul Pogba's management team announced Monday that the France midfielder would undergo surgery, putting his chances of playing in the World Cup in doubt. In August during pre-season training with Juventus, Pogba tore a lesion in his lateral meniscus. More recently, lab results did not see improvement on his right knee. At first, the Guinean […]

Atalanta

/ 277 days ago

Atalanta climbs atop Serie A after defeating new boys Monza

Newly promoted Monza, owned by former Milan politician Silvio Berlusconi, hoped to gain their first victory of the season on Monday. However, they faced an Atalanta side who were undefeated. In the 2022/23 Serie A season to date, Atalanta had not conceded defeat, sitting in third with three wins and two draws. A draw against […]

Leagues: Ligue Un

/ 277 days ago

PSG criticized for polluting air after taking private jet on short trip

Paris Saint-Germain can't win. Even after defeating Nantes 3-0 in Ligue 1 on Sunday, the French club was criticized by railway officials for leaving a carbon footprint. The criticism came from the director of a French railway company. After the away game in Nantes, PSG players flew back home to Paris. The city of Nantes […]

Mario Balotelli debut with FC Sion begins new chapter for cult hero

After penning a contract with FC Sion, former Italian forward Mario Balotelli made his debut in the Swiss Super League on Saturday. The two-year deal is worth €2.6 million. Balotelli's arrival on the field at Tourbillon Stadium in Switzerland was the match highlight. Roars from the home crowd welcomed the Ghanian Italian. Balotelli came on […]

AS Roma

/ 278 days ago

AS Roma suffer devastating loss against Udinese

AS Roma suffered their first loss of the season against Udinese on Sunday. However, the most shocking aspect of the defeat was the scoreline, losing 4-0 to the club nicknamed The Little Zebras. Going into the match, Roma were on impressive run for the first few weeks of the 2022/23 Serie A season. Prior to […]

Leagues: La Liga

/ 278 days ago

Yunus Musah lights up Valencia game in front of Berhalter

Nineteen-year-old phenom Yunus Musah assisted Samuel Lino's second goal for Valencia, and Hugo Duro's fifth, with a remarkable performance at Mestalla Stadium on Sunday, in front of the onlooking USMNT Coach Gregg Berhalter who was in the crowd to watch the American midfielder. Valencia scored three goals in the first 16 minutes of play against […]

Leagues: EPL

/ 278 days ago

VAR calls to disallow goals for West Ham & Newcastle were wrong

Due to controversial officiating calls in gameweek six, the Premier League has requested that the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in England reevaluate decisions made during in-game VAR reviews that occurred on Saturday. The two matches in question involve West Ham United, and Newcastle United. The two clubs scored goals that were disallowed after […]