On the eve of England's Group B opener against Iran in Doha, Southgate once again found himself fielding as many questions about politics as he did on his team's prospects.
England did not take the knee -- a gesture against racism and other forms of discrimination -- in their most recent matches in September. "We feel it's a strong statement that will go around the world, to young people in particular, to show that inclusivity is very important," he said.A number of captains are planning to wear a rainbow armband with the"OneLove" slogan even though FIFA wants skippers to wear different armbands to promote social messages as part of a partnership with United Nations agencies.
Iran's clerical leadership has been shaken by more than two months of women-led demonstrations sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman of Kurdish origin who had been arrested by the morality police in Tehran."I don't feel informed enough to comment on what's going on in Iran," he said."I don't think it's my place to comment on it either.