Former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf stated on Tuesday that requiring Iran’s World Cup team to return to its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, following its opening match in Los Angeles was a reasonable security measure amid tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Iran’s national team opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign Monday with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles. After the match, Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei reported that his team was unexpectedly ordered to leave the United States immediately and return to Mexico rather than stay overnight in California for recovery.
Wolf described the arrangement as consistent with what U.S. officials have indicated was the original plan. “According to the U.S., this was always the plan,” he said. “They were always going to play their match and then return back to Tijuana.”
Wolf noted that Iran has been training in Tijuana and traveling into the United States for matches. “Affording them the opportunity to come in and play but asking them to return back to their training base essentially, I think, is more than fair,” he added.
Ghalenoei said his team had expected to remain in California overnight before returning to Mexico. “They didn’t even give us time to recover,” he stated through an interpreter. “After the game today, they told us, ‘You have to leave immediately.’”
Wolf suggested that security concerns played a key role in the decision. “There were also some incidents with parts of the delegation where they were not given entry, presumably because of security concerns,” he said. “We know that the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and others are heavily embedded into all elements of Iran’s national government.”
“You have to be on alert that you don’t want individuals coming into the U.S. who aren’t properly vetted,” Wolf emphasized. When asked whether terrorist groups could exploit a major international event such as the World Cup, Wolf replied: “Absolutely. So, you’ve got to be on guard.”
Wolf noted that Iranian players and most coaches were granted visas but stressed, “Security is paramount here.” He added, “Just because you’re affiliated with soccer or football doesn’t mean you get a pass from security issues.”
Iran relocated its World Cup training base to Tijuana after diplomatic and security complications related to the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Several Iranian officials and staff members reportedly were denied U.S. visas prior to the tournament.
