Iranian players will receive $7,000 apiece from their government for beating the United States in the World Cup.

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The bonus, announced Tuesday by team spokesman Khosrow Valizadeh, was on top of the $1,500 the players each received for a 1-0 loss to heavily favored Yugoslavia in their first World Cup game in 20 years.The combined $8,500 reward isn't near the $100,000 and a Mercedes Benz that the Saudis got from their oil-rich government four years ago when they qualified for the World Cup. But in Iran, where a good monthly salary amounts to about $200, the reward is a small fortune.

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