Federal authorities say a man with direct ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps tried to enter the United States while posing as the president of Iran’s national soccer federation, as the Iranian team prepared for World Cup matches on American soil.

According to the report, the man was stopped in Tijuana, Mexico, where Iran’s team has been based because of US security restrictions. The incident comes after Washington made clear that Iranian players could compete in the World Cup, but IRGC-linked personnel would not be allowed to use the tournament as cover to enter the United States.

The case highlights the security concerns surrounding Iran’s World Cup delegation. US officials have warned that Tehran has a long history of embedding regime-linked figures inside civilian and sporting delegations, while Iran has accused Washington of politicizing the tournament.