Amid a so far successful World Cup, Monday’s CNN This Morning backtracked on their worries about the World Cup, as host Audie Cornish, who previously showed worry over the event on its opening day over a Somali referee banned for ties to terrorism, framed the World Cup as “uniting.”
Her guest expert on the World Cup, Will Leitch, the founder of Deadspin, was also seemingly surprised by the success, as he mentioned how “people were very concerned” about the US hosting because of ICE. Leitch later praised the Iranian national team for their “pretty inspiring story” amid being treated “shabbiliy” by the US.
After Leitch briefly mentioned the experiences of foreign soccer fans, using the example of Dutch fans enjoying Kansas City barbecue, he turned back to the concerns before the tournament and the theory that ICE would instill fear into internationals and possibly have deportation campaigns at stadiums:
We've talked about this, people were very concerned about coming in, coming to the United States for a variety of reasons, from immigration to ICE. And there have been issues. (...) But generally speaking, this tournament has gone off kind of magnificently in a way that has felt pretty healing for the United States at a certain level.
Monday's CNN This Morning featured Will Leitch, the founder of Deadspin, who seemed surprised that ICE has not been a bigger factor in hurting World Cup excitement.
— Nick (@nspin310) June 22, 2026
He also called Iran's national team "inspiring" amid being treated "shabbily" by the US government. pic.twitter.com/CHFAwpzCdi
Leitch, the founder of an apparent sports news website, then later said Trump might have a bigger role in the tournament but, “he’s been distracted by the pool lately.” One could also say CNN has been completely distracted by the reflecting pool.
He then returned to the idea of ICE before he praised the Iranian team, who he said have, “been treated incredibly shabbily in this tournament.”
Leitch also attempted to debunk, with only denials from the Iranian Team, claims from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin that someone with ties to he IRGC almost boarded an Iranian team plane to the US, as he also called the team “inspiring”:
Just this weekend, uh, U.S. Homeland Secretary Markwayne Mullin claimed that a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was about to get on the plane. The team denies this, says this is in no way true.
Of all the teams in this, the one team that I think is actually a pretty inspiring story is Iran, in addition to the U.S. Team, for the conditions that they've had to play under and have generally succeeded.
To close, Leitsch conceded, “other than the Iranian team, most of the fears that people have worried about have not happened.” But still, he left the door open to instill fear that Trump could put his hands on the tournament, in the country he has governed and an event he played a role in obtaining for the US back in 2018:
And eventually the pool may be blue, and there may be something for Trump to turn his attention back to this.
With all the lead-up coverage to the event and controversy over a referee banned over ties to terrorism, the event has shown the true side of American media’s apparent dislike of their own country. While the media worried over immigration and Trump, foreign visitors have thoroughly enjoyed America, as seen with Freddy’s travels across the US South, Scottish fan enjoyment of Fenway Park, and the newfound European obsession with ranch dressing.
The transcript is below. Click "expand":
CNN This Morning
June 22, 2026
6:21:57 AM Eastern
(..)
AUDIE CORNISH: So you've got dreams coming true. That's what the World Cup is all about, and the worries about filling stadiums and selling tickets at this point are gone because of moments like these. Whether we're watching the next greats score their first World Cup goal of what should be many to come, or seeing a team claim a World Cup victory for the first time in their history. Perhaps one of the most uniting things, seeing different cultures embracing.
(...)
6:22:50 AM Eastern
CORNISH: Okay. Joining me now, Will Leitch, contributing editor for New York Magazine Sports. Nature is healing is what I'm hearing. Why do you think all of this, like culture clash, is such a big deal? And I especially hear it coming out of the South, I should say the fans from abroad who are visiting there.
WILL LEITCH: Yeah, to hear the people from the Netherlands talk about the Kansas City barbecue has really been kind of a wonderful aspect of this, too.
Yeah. You know, remember this was a - we've talked about this, people were very concerned about coming in, coming to the United States for a variety of reasons, from immigration to ICE. And there have been issues. The Iranian team in particular has been treated pretty shabbily by the U.S. Government in this. But generally speaking, this tournament has gone off kind of magnificently in a way that has felt pretty healing for the United States at a certain level. You know, it's been a good reminder. You know, we're kind of so caught up in the morass of everything that we do have a lot to show people, a lot of things to be proud of. I think you've seen that this is what the World Cup does, right?
All of those worries about the World Cup, what's going to happen with this? What's going to happen with that. Once the game gets started, the games themselves are wonderful, but also all of these different cultures. I was fortunate to be at the Spain-Cabo Verde game, that first game in Atlanta.
And just to celebrate with Cabo Verde fans after. Cabo Verde has fewer people than Mesa, Arizona. I mean, this is a very, very small country. And the joy that they have, that you see this at every single one of these places. These venues have been full. The tickets have been very, very expensive. But the seats are full, the stands are full. So, people are going out to these games and really kind of having a pretty wonderful time.
(...)
6:26:25 AM Eastern
CORNISH: Um, you know, I want to mention this. Iran's team actually left a note in the locker room in LA. I just want to show people on this little notebook here. It says “From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilized Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast. We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honor, and leave with dignity. Thank you, Los Angeles, for your hospitality.”
We weren't sure they'd be able to be here or leave a note like that. And it reminds us of what's going on politically. Is there another shoe to drop? Is Trump going to make an appearance after FIFA gave him a very special peace-adjacent prize?
LEITCH: Yeah, very special prize. Yeah. So, I think that - remember the final is in MetLife Stadium, or sorry, New York-New Jersey stadium in East Rutherford. So it's very possible there could be a Knicks-level-esque appearance for him.
Certainly he's been a big part - He's been distracted by the pool lately. But generally speaking, he's been a big part of what was going on with this World Cup. He was at the draw, famously got his peace prize.
And I feel like, for all the worries that, like, listen, ICE has not been a major presence in this tournament like a lot of people worried about. The Iranian team in particular has been treated incredibly shabbily in this tournament. They've had to fly out after their games, not been allowed to stay in the country. They've had to leave, actually, the night of the game to go back to Mexico.
Just this weekend, uh, U.S. Homeland Secretary Markwayne Mullin claimed that a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was about to get on the plane. The team denies this, says this is in no way true.
Of all the teams in this, the one team that I think is actually a pretty inspiring story is Iran, in addition to the U.S. Team, for the conditions that they've had to play under and have generally succeeded.
They've played very well in this tournament. There is a non-zero possibility. Iran certainly looks like they could advance to the knockout round and keep going. This has been, very generally, other than the Iranian team, most of the major fears that people have worried about have not happened. But we still have a long way to go in this tournament. And eventually the pool may be blue, and there may be something for Trump to turn his attention back to this. But so far, it's really been - the focus has remained with the games and on the international spirit that the U.S. has been able to welcome here, making the Iranian team, even if the government isn't making them feel welcome, the fans are, and I think that speaks to kind of the really wonderful thing about this tournament so far, and really kind of every four years.
(...)
