Rubio clarifies US stance on Iran World Cup team

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has clarified the United States' position regarding Iran's participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting. He stated that the U.S. does not oppose the presence of the Iranian national football team itself. However, Rubio explicitly warned that members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would not be permitted to enter the country disguised as journalists or sports coaches, labeling them as terrorists. This statement reinforces the ongoing U.S. policy of isolating the IRGC while attempting to separate it from broader Iranian society and international engagements.