DHS says Iranian World Cup staff denied visas over IRGC ties

Iran allegedly tried to bring people accused by U.S. officials of having direct ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) into the United States as part of its World Cup delegation, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said.

Mullin made the comments in an interview with Fox News on Sunday as Iran prepared to play a World Cup match against Belgium in Los Angeles.

He said most teams travel with about 120 people, including support staff, doctors, coaches and other members of the delegation.

“We accepted 53 individuals coming in,” Mullin said. “The rest of the individuals that Iran tried to bring in also have direct ties with the IRGC and aren’t their normal traveling group.”

“These games that Iran plays makes them an adversary that you can’t trust,” Mullin said.

The Associated Press reported that 11 Iranian team officials and staff members did not receive U.S. visas ahead of the games. Iran’s team also moved its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico.

The U.S. has also denied Iran’s requests to arrive two days before its matches and has required the team to leave immediately after each game, according to the AP.