What REALLY Happens When US Wrestlers Compete in IRAN?

YouTube Video Description

🎬 KOSHTI: Americans Wrestling in Iran
The untold story of the first American wrestling team to ever compete on Iranian soil.

In 2016, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club made history. They traveled to Juybar, Iran—the self-proclaimed "capital of wrestling"—to compete in the World Wrestling Clubs Cup against 15 elite teams from around the globe.
American filmmaker Braden Barty disguised himself as a wrestling coach, embedded with the team, and captured never-before-seen footage using hidden GoPro cameras. What he documented was extraordinary.

THE MISSION
A team stacked with world champions, national phenoms, and multi-time All-Americans. One destination: Iran—where wrestling isn't just a sport, it's a religion. Where 67 million people live and breathe every match. Where wrestlers don't compete for themselves. They wrestle for God. For country.
THE JOURNEY
From touchdown in Tehran to a 2.5-hour bus ride through the Iranian countryside. From chaotic weigh-ins and missing FILA cards to an Olympic-style village buzzing with international competitors. From pool play against elite clubs to an inevitable collision course with Iran's unbeatable home squad.
THE STAKES
$25,000. A world championship. And something money can't buy—respect on the world's biggest wrestling stage, surrounded by a nation that lives for this sport.
"Iran wrestles for God. In the U.S., we wrestle for ourselves. That's a hard confidence to break."
THE FINALS
USA vs. Iran. 67 million people watching live. The whole country tuned in.
How did it end? Press play.
0:00 Intro - Heading to Iran
1:01 "Wrestling is Like Football Here"
2:03 Arrival in Tehran
3:06 The Olympic Village
4:14 Russian Media Interviews
5:05 The Mecca of Wrestling
6:14 Weigh-In Day
8:26 The FILA Card Crisis
9:29 Tournament Format - 15 Teams
10:17 The Calm Before the Storm
11:49 Day 2 - Competition Begins
12:15 "Iran Wrestles for God"
14:06 Into the Gauntlet
32:06 World Champs & National Phenoms
32:55 "There's No Better Place to Wrestle"
33:21 The Pep Talk
34:43 The Finals - USA vs Iran
37:08 67 Million Watching
42:32 The Final Whistle
44:25 Reflections
45:31 The Victory Lap