White House Justifies Iran Visa Policies During World Cup
The White House has defended its handling of visa restrictions for Iran's national football team during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026, with top official Andrew Giuliani stating that the Iranian squad's decision to relocate its tournament base from the United States to Tijuana, Mexico, proved mutually beneficial. Giuliani, the Executive Director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, told reporters on Wednesday that the arrangement allowed for fair play while preventing members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from entering the US.
Iran's World Cup Campaign Marked by Controversy
Iran ended their World Cup campaign with a third-place finish in Group G, recording three draws against Egypt, Belgium, and New Zealand, including a notable goalless draw against tournament favorites Belgium. However, their participation had been in doubt for months following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in February 2026. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described Iran's treatment as the "most politicised" in World Cup history, according to Al Jazeera.
Iran relocated their base camp from Arizona to Tijuana before the tournament due to uncertainty over travel and entry arrangements in the US. They also requested FIFA to move their games outside the US but were unsuccessful. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to "stand up" to the USA, calling the team's treatment "really terrible" and stating it hurt them "physically and mentally."
Logistical Challenges and Visa Issues
Iran faced significant logistical hurdles, with several support staff unable to obtain visas, forcing the squad to operate without key personnel. The team was required to enter the US one day before each match and leave immediately after its conclusion on the same day. Giuliani defended these restrictions, citing logistical parity: "In Los Angeles, they were able to come a day early for the match. For comparison's sake, the U.S. was in Orange County. They took a bus ride, a longer bus ride than the flight was for the Iranians."
Restrictions were eased for Iran's final group stage match in Seattle, allowing them entry two days before the game. Giuliani explained: "For Seattle, it was two days because we knew that flight was a little over three hours. So we wanted to make sure they had that extra day so we could achieve the parity."
Mexico's Role and Iran's Gratitude
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that her government allowed Iran to stay in Mexico during the World Cup, noting that the US did not want to host them. Giuliani added that the arrangement ensured no one connected to the IRGC entered the US using the World Cup as an excuse. After the tournament concluded for Iran, the team thanked the people of Tijuana, calling the city "our second home and our second team."
