USA and Iran face off at Istanbul championships

On paper they might just be outsiders, but tonight the Iranian national basketball team will be in the global spotlight.

Not only is it their first appearance in the World Championship, but Iran will play against the United States, a country with the best basketball team in the world and which Iran usually refers to as the “Great Satan”.

The American side showed no hint of bitterness.

US coach Mike Krzyzewski said his team had respect for their Iranian opponents.

"This is a sporting event,” he told FRANCE 24. “We have respect for Iran, I have great feeling for their country and they're sportsmen and so are we. We will have a great game."

Like players everywhere in the world, Iranians dream of playing in the NBA.

Some have succeeded: one of Iran’s star players, Hamed Hadadi, has been playing in the US for two years. He shares the excitement of his fellow Iranians.

"I’m happy,” he says. “I’m happy to play with the US.”

The basketball world championship, being held in Istanbul, Turkey, concludes on September 12.