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There are few competitions that USA Wrestling places a higher priority on than the Freestyle World Cup. For executive director Rich Bender, it is his personal favorite event, in no small part due to the atmosphere in places like Kermanshah, Iran, where this year's iteration is being held on Thursday and Friday.

Below are some of our favorite social media posts to give you all an idea of the type of warm reception U.S. wrestlers have been receiving in Iran, even after it appeared they might not be able to wrestle in the event. 

The match introductions for USA-Georgia. Iranian crowd chanting Jordan. Incredible stuff. #WorldCup2017 pic.twitter.com/qqev4byPi3

— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) February 16, 2017

Logan Stieber after his win over Georgia
James Green post Georgia

Jordan Burroughs getting mobbed

Jayson Ness, Nahshon Garrett, and Rich Perry in the crowd

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