Iran’s national soccer team, poised to participate in the World Cup on U.S. soil, is reportedly part of a broader strategy described as a “soft war” against America, according to a prominent watchdog group. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to revoke the team’s visas.
UANI’s concerns stem from remarks made by a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who, during a rally for the team, suggested the tournament be treated as a “war battlefield.” This rhetoric has raised alarms about the potential political motives behind Iran’s participation in the event.
An exclusive letter, acquired by The Daily Mail, was sent to Secretary Rubio by UANI, alleging that the Iranian regime intends to leverage the World Cup to intimidate the United States.
Though the team has secured the necessary visas to play in scheduled matches in California and Washington, they are currently based in Mexico, aligning with visa requirements. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has discreetly denied entry to over a dozen members of the team’s support staff.
In the letter, UANI Chairman Ambassador Mark Wallace presents what the group describes as substantial evidence indicating the team’s close ties with sanctioned terrorist figures and regime propagandists.
The watchdog claims the team has recently organized several events with high-ranking officials from the IRGC and the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. These individuals, UANI asserts, have been implicated in actions against U.S. forces, international terrorism, and severe human rights abuses.
The most damning allegations stem from an official World Cup send-off ceremony held in Tehran on May 13.
The event, attended by the players, coaches and the head of Iran’s soccer federation, was reportedly hosted at an IRGC-affiliated rally.
A prominent watchdog group is urging the US government to deny or revoke visas for the Iranian national soccer team ahead of the World Cup, citing explosive new evidence that connects the team directly to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a ‘Soft War’ on American soil
When the conflict with Iran was at it’s peak, Trump issued a blunt warning on social media, declaring that it was not ‘appropriate’ for the Iranian national team to compete in the tournament due to severe concerns over their own ‘life and safety’
UANI reveals new Farsi-language information detailing how the Iranian soccer team has increased its IRGC-related activities before the World Cup and how the regime plans to ‘exploit’ the games to carry out a ‘Soft War’ on ‘US soil’
Alireza Jahanbakhsh celebrates scoring their second goal in Qatar at the AFC Asian Cup
Iran’s players kiss the Muslim’s holiest book Quran as they leave to Antalya airport, southern Turkey before departing to Tijuana, Mexico, for the World Cup soccer tournament
Leading the ceremony was Hossein Yekta, a senior IRGC commander under international human rights sanctions for his role in violently crushing unarmed protesters during the recent 2025-2026 Protests
Leading the ceremony was Hossein Yekta, a senior IRGC commander under international human rights sanctions for his role in violently crushing unarmed protesters during the recent 2025-2026 Protests.
Yekta is also a member of the ‘Habib Circle,’ a notorious elite intelligence network reporting directly to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Addressing the World Cup-bound athletes, Yekta explicitly framed the sporting event as a military conflict against the West.
He called the World Cup a ‘war battlefield’ and that the Iranian team is playing in memory of those who ‘stood by Iran’s missile defense systems and ballistic missile launchers.’
He closed his speech with a chilling comparison: ‘Just as our boys today guard the Strait of Hormuz and have put the brakes on the Strait of Hormuz, these boys will guard the football goal.’
During the rally, the soccer team stood on stage while the crowd brandished images of IRGC commanders and flags of Hezbollah, the US-designated terrorist organization. Attendees were also openly encouraged to chant ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel’ directly in front of the players.
UANI argues that the regime has also systematically infiltrated the sport’s domestic infrastructure. Former IRGC commander Mohammad Rouyanian managed the prominent Persepolis soccer club for years, and in 2025, active Basij militia member Ali Inanloo was appointed to the club’s board.
The soccer team’s compliance with the regime stands in stark, tragic contrast to the fate of other Iranian athletes.
UANI argues that the regime has systematically infiltrated the sport’s domestic infrastructure. Former IRGC commander Mohammad Rouyanian managed the prominent Persepolis soccer club for years, and in 2025, active Basij militia member Ali Inanloo was appointed to the club’s board
A handout photo made available by the Iranian Soccer Federation shows Iran’s national soccer team players Mohammad Ghorbani (L) and Saman Ghodoos (R) before departing from Antalya Airport for Tijuana, Mexico
Players for Iran arrive for the World Cup soccer tournament in Tijuana, Mexico, Sunday, June 7
Senior IRGC commanders – including the late commander-in-chief – hosted by the national team
The letter reminds Secretary Rubio that the very regime this team is celebrating has brutally murdered its own players for demanding freedom.
During the pro-democracy protests in January 2026, several soccer players were killed by state forces. Among the victims listed by UANI are: Mojtaba Torshiz, a Premier League player killed on January 8 in Tehran, Rebin Moradi, a 17-year-old youth player for Saipa, who was shot from behind in Tehran and Pedram Khalouei, a 15-year-old youth player for Sepahan FC, killed on January 9 in Isfahan.
Despite the ferocious political debates, the Iranian squad has officially landed in North America just four days before the tournament’s opening whistle.
The team was pictured boarding a flight from their training base in Antalya, Turkey, on Saturday before touching down in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday afternoon with a casual caption reading: ‘hi Mexico.’
The squad was forced to pivot to Mexico after a desperate scramble over US visa delays disrupted their original plans to base camp in Arizona, prompting Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to step in and offer safe harbor in May.
With the World Cup shining a global spotlight on US soil, UANI argues that allowing the national team entry poses a direct national security risk and insults the victims of the regime’s domestic terror.
The State Department has not yet publicly responded to the letter or indicated whether visa restrictions will be further imposed on the Iranian delegation.
When the conflict with Iran was at it’s peak, Trump issued a blunt warning on social media, declaring that it was not ‘appropriate’ for the Iranian national team to compete in the tournament due to severe concerns over their own ‘life and safety.’
