United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) has written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding that the United States revoke visas for Iran’s national soccer team. the letter alleges the squad is cloesly linked to senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is part of a broader “soft war” against America, citing a May 13 ceremony in Tehran where IRGC officials addressed the players.

May 13 Tehran Send‑Off: IRGC Commanders Speak to Soccer Players

According to UANI, the ceremony was led by Hossein Yekta, a senior IRGC commander under international sanctions for his role in violently suppressing unarmed protesters during the 2025‑2026 demonstrations. Yekta, also a member of the “Habib Circle” intelligence network tied to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, told the athletes that the World Cup was a “war battlefield” and urged them to play in memory of those who support Iran’s missile defense systems. He compared the soccer goal to the Strait of Hormuz, stating the players would “guard the football goal” just as Iranian forces guard the strategic waterway.

During the rally, the crowd displaayed images of IRGC commanders and flags of Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, and chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” in front of the team. UANI claims this event is evidence of a systematic regime effort to exploit the global tournament for propaganda and subversion.

UANI’s Evidence of IRGC Integration in Iranian Soccer

UANI’s letter, penned by Chairman Ambassador Mark Wallace, argues that the Iranian soccer team has co‑hosted multiple events over the past month with senior IRGC figures. the group also cites the regime’s long‑standing infiltration of Iran’s domestic soccer infrastructure, noting former IRGC commander Mohammad Rouyanian’s management of the Persepolis club and the 2025 appointment of active Basij militia member Ali Inanloo to its board.

While the players themselves have obtained visas to compete in California and Washington, the U.S. government recently denied visa applications for more than a dozen support staff . uANI contends that given the new evidence of direct IRGC integration and the stated intent to conduct a “soft war,” the entire team’s entry should be denied or existing visas revoked to prevent the regime from using the event to menace the United States on its own soil.

Who Is the Unnamed Buyer? The Role of the IRGC in Iranian Soccer

UANI’s allegations raise a key question: how deeply is the IRGC embedded in Iran’s national soccer program? The group points to senior commanders such as Hossein Yekta and Mohammad Rouyanian, both sanctioned for violent repression, as having direct influence over the team’s activities.. The evidence presented by UANI suggests a deliberate strategy to use the World Cup as a platform for anti‑American propaganda, but the U.S. government has not yet confirmed the veracity of these claims.

What Is the US Response Likely to Be?

UANI’s letter is a formal request to Secretary of State Marco Rubio,but no official U.S. response has been released. The U.S. State Department has previously denied visa applications for more than a dozen Iranian support staff, indicating a cautious approach to Iranian participation in the tournament. whether the U.S. will act on UANI’s demands remains uncertain, and the outcome will hinge on the government’s assessment of the evidence and the broader diplomatic context surrounding the World Cup.