U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Iran attempted to use its 2026 FIFA World Cup delegation as cover to move individuals with direct ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) into the United States.
Speaking on Fox News‘s “Sunday Morning Futures” on June 22, Mullin said the U.S. accepted 53 members of Iran’s World Cup delegation while blocking the remainder after screening identified IRGC connections. Iran’s delegation, based in Tijuana, Mexico, totaled more than 100 people.
“The rest of the individuals Iran tried to bring in all also had direct ties to the IRGC and aren’t their normal traveling group,” Mullin said. He added that the president of Iran’s football federation was among those denied entry.
Iran International reported in June that federation president Mehdi Taj, whom the outlet described as IRGC-linked, had been denied a U.S. visa.
Mullin told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo that the World Cup delegation attempt was not an isolated effort. U.S. and Canadian authorities have recorded a rise in Iranian nationals attempting to enter through the northern border, with most of those apprehended having direct ties to the IRGC. “We’ve seen an unusual amount of Iranian nationals trying to sneak in through our Northern Border,” Mullin said.
Markwayne Mullin alleges that Iran tried to smuggle IRGC associates into the US with their World Cup team pic.twitter.com/QXMaxmrtLT
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 21, 2026
The disclosures came as Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland to negotiate a framework agreement to end the ongoing U.S.-Iran military conflict. Mullin said Iran’s players were fully vetted. Following a 2-2 opening draw against New Zealand, Iran held Belgium to a 0-0 tie on June 21 in Los Angeles.
“This regime that we’re dealing with, they have been chanting ‘Death to America’ for 49 years,” Mullin said.
