Goodman: Time for the U.S. to lighten up on Iran soccer

This is an opinion column.

Athletes love to lean on the ultimate sports cliché: us against the world. When Alabama defensive lineman Tim Keenan addressed the media ahead of last year's Rose Bowl, he channeled that exact sentiment, declaring, “We all we got, we all we need.”

As it turned out, that wasn't enough. Alabama's 38-3 loss in the College Football Playoff proved that while the Crimson Tide might have felt like they were taking on the globe, they were actually just facing a formidable Indiana squad. It begs the question: does the us-against-the-world mentality ever really hold water, or is it just hyperbole?

The Real World Cup Underdog

In the 2026 World Cup, we may have finally found an organization that actually fits the bill. The Iran national soccer team has spent the last few weeks navigating a gauntlet of global and domestic pressures designed to keep them on the ropes.

While I personally hold the view that Iran should not be participating in this tournament, there is no denying the team is being subjected to an aggressive series of obstacles by the U.S. government. After Monday night's 2-2 draw with New Zealand at SoFi Stadium, it is clear that the Trump Administration is intent on treating the Iranian squad like an unwanted guest.

A Competitive Disadvantage

The Iranian team is facing a logistical nightmare. After being forced to move their basecamp from Tucson to Tijuana, Mexico, the team is now being required to leave U.S. soil immediately following every match. Iranian player Mehdi Taremi put it bluntly after Monday's draw: “Everything is a disaster for us.”

The team arrived just one day before their match against New Zealand, enduring a five-hour slog through additional security screenings—a transit experience that makes a standard Birmingham-to-Atlanta flight seem painless. By forcing them to shuttle back and forth from Tijuana, the U.S. is creating a distinct competitive disadvantage that threatens the integrity of the tournament itself.

The Path Forward

The United States is at war with the Islamic Republic of Iran, but it is not at war with the players on the pitch. If the U.S. and FIFA have granted Iran a spot in this World Cup, the administration should extend basic hospitality. If the team represents a true national security risk, they should not be allowed to play at all. Anything in between is just interference that undermines the game.

Iran is set to face Egypt at 10 p.m. this Friday in Seattle. Amid the current ceasefire, it is time for the Trump Administration to allow the team to remain in Seattle for the necessary duration. Of course, the atmosphere will be anything but quiet; the city has designated the Iran-Egypt matchup as its official LGBTQ “Pride Match,” adding another layer of complexity to an already charged environment.

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