Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the tournament, described the situation as dynamic, noting that discussions regarding the team’s logistics will continue following Sunday’s match against Belgium in Los Angeles. Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei has labeled his side the most oppressed team in the competition due to these constraints, but Giuliani defended the measures as a necessary balance between tournament accessibility and national security.
Giuliani emphasized that moving the team's training base from Tucson to Tijuana actually reduced transit times for players. He noted that while all athletes and coaches secured visas, some team officials were denied entry due to derogatory information found during background checks. Despite the friction over logistics, officials confirmed that no credible threats against the tournament have been identified, though security remains on high alert. The U.S. task force continues to evaluate whether to adjust travel protocols before Iran’s third match against Egypt in Seattle next Friday.
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