Iran denied hotel stays in US
Trump's administration prevented the Iranian team from staying in US hotels after their games, forcing them to return to Tijuana instead.
Snapshot · The MeidasTouch Podcast
Trump FIFA Plan Completely Backfires
Explore episode
Jun 28, 2026
Where this was said
Trump's FIFA Backfire: Overview
At 3:00 · chapter starts 2:10
Ben Meiselas launches into his main segment by setting the central irony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Trump tried to use the tournament to spread division, but the world responded with unity. He notes that the places drawing the most international affection — Seattle and Los Angeles — are the very cities Trump has spent years attacking. His framing positions the entire episode as a story about people-to-people warmth triumphing over top-down authoritarian attempts at division, with Trump festering in Washington while the world embraces progressive American cities.
Seattle and LA: The Cities Trump Hates, the World Loves
The cities that welcomed the world's football fans — Seattle and Los Angeles — are the exact cities Trump relentlessly calls shitholes. The 2026 World Cup became an accidental advertisement for the progressive cities Trump despises.
Trump Forces Iran Team to Tijuana at 4 AM
The Trump administration barred Iran's World Cup players from US hotels and forced them to travel back to Tijuana at 4 AM after every match. The Iranian embassy in Kenya called it the most unfair and shameful behavior ever seen at a World Cup.
Iran denied family and staff entry
The Trump administration would not allow Iranian team staff, coaches, and family members to join the team in the United States.
Iranian Players Labeled as IRGC Agents
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.
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