Markwayne Mullin, the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, informed Fox News that an individual linked directly to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to board the Iranian soccer team’s flight to Los Angeles from Mexico ahead of their World Cup match against Belgium on Sunday.
The Iranian football federation responded on Sunday by labeling Mullin’s statement as an “outright lie,” alleging that the claims were “fabricated and completely unfounded.”
“The assertion that an official from the Iranian football federation tried to board a flight to the United States yesterday and was barred from doing so is unequivocally false. Those who made this claim know full well that such an incident did not occur,” they stated.
“It is regrettable that a senior U.S. official would resort to disseminating falsehoods and misinformation in an effort to justify the imposition of restrictions on members of the Iranian national team delegation. When a specific, verifiable allegation is proven false, it undermines the credibility of any other assertions made.”
Mullin noted that while most teams travel with approximately 120 individuals, the U.S. accepted only 53 from the Iranian contingent. He asserted that the remaining members seeking visas had “direct ties to the IRGC and are not part of their usual traveling party.”
The Iranian federation dismissed Mullin’s claims as “entirely unsupported by any evidence or documentation,” accusing him of attempting to cover up discrimination and unreasonable restrictions imposed on the team.
Although Mullin did not disclose the name of the individual in question, he reiterated that this person had “direct ties” to the IRGC, a fact vehemently denied by the Iranian federation.
Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian federation, previously served as a senior intelligence officer within the IRGC, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.
This statement reflects Iran’s ongoing grievances during the tournament regarding the intersection of politics and soccer, even as U.S. Vice President JD Vance expressed hope for a “new beginning” with discussions commencing in Switzerland on a potential interim agreement to resolve the war.
Iran’s players and coaching staff have expressed frustration over their travel arrangements, having to move between Mexico instead of Tucson, Arizona, as well as the exclusion of certain officials and personnel. The federation announced plans to file a complaint with FIFA.
After the 0-0 draw against Belgium, Iranian national team player Alireza Jahanbakhsh remarked that he wants to focus on recovery and preparing for their next match against Egypt in Seattle. He expressed hope for a smooth transition to their next destination.
“We don’t ask for much. We simply seek the same treatment as all the other 47 teams. We hope everyone who is supposed to accompany us can do so,” Jahanbakhsh stated.
Regarding the individual who was detained, Mullin stated earlier on Sunday, “Upon researching his background, we determined he was only appointed in 2022, and we did not allow him to board the flight.” He emphasized that the individual attempting to board the plane had direct connections to the IRGC.
Additionally, eleven members of Iran’s World Cup delegation have been denied entry visas to the U.S.
Following the team’s first match against New Zealand, Iran’s coach, Amir Ghalenoei, commented on the challenges faced by those permitted entry, citing scheduling disruptions that affected their arrival and stay.
“We were supposed to arrive two nights before the game but were not allowed. We were scheduled to stay through tonight and return tomorrow, yet no explanation has been provided,” he said. “Our team is the most oppressed team in the entire World Cup.”
Information from PA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.