Rubio vows to block IRGC-linked World Cup visitors as the United States prepares to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that Washington would welcome Iran’s national football team and its support staff but would prevent individuals with alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from entering the country. His remarks came during a House of Representatives committee hearing and highlighted growing security concerns ahead of the global tournament.
US Tightens Security Measures
Rubio emphasized that the United States has no objection to Iranian athletes participating in the competition. However, he said authorities would closely monitor Iran’s delegation. This is to ensure that individuals unrelated to sports do not enter the country under the cover of the tournament. According to Rubio, officials will carefully review all members of the delegation and deny entry to anyone linked to the IRGC.
Meanwhile, the Iranian national team has adjusted its tournament plans. Instead of holding its training camp in the United States, Iran will remain based in Mexico throughout the competition. The team will travel to the United States only for scheduled matches before returning to its Mexican base.
Visa Process Remains Key Concern
At the same time, visa approvals remain a major issue for Iranian officials. Amir Mehdi Alavi, spokesperson for the Iranian Football Federation, said authorities expect players’ visas for Mexico to be issued shortly. The federation continues to coordinate travel arrangements ahead of the tournament.
Last week, members of Iran’s squad traveled from their training camp in Antalya, Türkiye, to Ankara to complete visa applications at the U.S. Embassy. The team has trained in Antalya since May 19 while preparing for the competition.
As the tournament approaches, Rubio blocks IRGC-linked World Cup visitors while allowing Iranian athletes to compete under strict security oversight.
