Where this was said
Trump's Treatment of the Iranian Team
At 4:55 · chapter starts 3:05
This is the factual core of the episode. Meiselas methodically lists the ways the Trump administration made the Iranian team's World Cup experience deliberately degrading: they were barred from staying in US hotels after matches, forced to travel to Tijuana each night — arriving at 4 AM. Staff, coaches, and family members were denied US entry, and the regime officially labeled the players as agents of the IRGC, effectively treating them as enemy combatants. The Iranian embassy in Kenya responded with a statement calling it the most unfair and shameful behavior ever witnessed at a World Cup. Meiselas also addresses what he describes as a questionable offside call that overturned Iran's game-winning goal, arguing the team handled their exit with more dignity than their hosts.
The Trump administration would not allow Iranian team staff, coaches, and family members to join the team in the United States.
The Trump regime officially designated Iranian soccer players as IRGC agents and treated them like enemy combatants. They barred team staff, coaches, and family members from entering the country — all for a sporting event.
The Trump regime officially designated Iranian players as agents of the IRGC and said they should essentially be treated as enemy combatants.
Despite Trump's best efforts to inject hate and division into the World Cup, the response from fans, players, and host cities was one of unity. Meiselas argues that the tournament proved people-to-people connection is more powerful than authoritarian propaganda.
After their final World Cup match, the Iranian team was forced to immediately leave the US and arrived in Tijuana at 4:00 AM rather than staying in American hotels.
