White House defends restrictions imposed on Iran's World Cup delegation

The White House defended this Wednesday (8) the way it handled the restrictions imposed on the Iranian delegation during the 2026 World Cup. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the tournament, stated that the Iranian team's decision to set up its base in Tijuana, Mexico, instead of Tucson, Arizona, was beneficial to both parties.

According to Giuliani, cross-border logistics worked smoothly, despite complaints made by the Iranian Football Federation during the group stage and after the team's elimination.

"It is important to highlight that the Iranians chose to go to Tijuana. We are satisfied with this choice", declared the leader to journalists.

The change of base occurred on the eve of the competition, amid uncertainty about the granting of visas to enter the United States. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum previously stated that her government agreed to host the Iranian delegation because the US did not want to host the team.

Giuliani also said that the decision helped prevent people linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from entering the United States using the World Cup as a justification.

The Iranian players' visas were released just ten days before the team's debut. However, members of the technical committee and administrative team were denied entry, including members considered essential by the Iranian Federation.

Initially, athletes were only allowed to enter the United States one day before each match. At the time, coach Amir Ghalenoei stated that Iran was the "most oppressed team" in the World Cup.

Giuliani countered the criticism and compared the Iranian move to that of the North American team. According to him, while Iran traveled by plane from Tijuana, the United States faced an even longer bus ride between Orange County and Los Angeles.

Restrictions were partially eased before Iran's third match in Seattle, when the delegation was allowed to enter the US two days before the game. Still, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ordered the team to leave the country immediately after the game ended.

After being eliminated in the group stage, the Iranian Federation thanked the people of Tijuana for their welcome and stated that Mexico had become "our second home and our second team".

For the first time, the quarterfinals of the World Cup are without Brazil, Germany and Italy

Source: CNN