Key facts
- Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, defended the U.S. handling of Iran's team logistics.
- Giuliani stated Iran's decision to base their World Cup team in Tijuana, Mexico, was mutually beneficial.
- The U.S. awarded visas to all of Iran's players but denied entry to several support staff members.
- Iran's football federation cited visa uncertainty as a reason for moving their base camp from Arizona to Mexico.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed her government agreed to host the Iranian squad.
The White House has defended its handling of Iran's visa restrictions and team logistics during the World Cup, with top official Andrew Giuliani stating that the team's decision to base themselves in Tijuana, Mexico, instead of Tucson, Arizona, was mutually beneficial.
Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, told reporters that the cross-border logistics worked smoothly for all parties, despite Iran's complaints during the group stage and after their elimination from the tournament. The Iranian Football Federation had negotiated at the last minute to move the team's base camp from Arizona to Mexico, partly due to uncertainty over whether they would be granted visas to enter the U.S.
"It's important to point out that the Iranians chose to go to Tijuana. We were happy with that choice," Giuliani said. "I think the Mexicans were very happy with that choice. I think the Iranians, as they said, were very happy with that choice as well. I think what we tried to do here on the White House Task Force was apply common sense to making sure the athletes could have fair play on the pitch."
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had stated her government agreed to allow the Iranian squad to stay in Mexico during the World Cup, adding that the U.S. did not want to host the team. Giuliani also noted that the decision ensured that individuals with connections to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would not enter the country using the World Cup as a pretext.
The U.S. awarded visas to all of Iran's players just 10 days before their first match, but several support staff members were denied entry, including "key managerial and administrative members," according to Iran's football federation. Initially, Iran's squad was only allowed to enter the U.S. a day before matches, prompting coach Amir Ghalenoei to say they were the "most oppressed team" at the World Cup.
Giuliani defended the travel arrangements by noting logistical parity, stating that in Los Angeles, Iran could arrive a day early for matches, comparing it to the U.S. team's longer bus ride from Orange County. The restrictions were later eased for Iran's third match in Seattle, allowing them to enter two days before the game. However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicated the team would still be required to leave the day the match concluded. Following their group-stage elimination, Iran thanked the people of Tijuana for their hospitality, calling Mexico "our second home and our second team."