Iran condemn 'petty' US security chief who danced over their World Cup exit

Iran’s Football Federation has condemned US Homeland Security chief Markwayne Mullin after he publicly celebrated the Iranian team’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup, saying he “danced a happy dance” and was glad the squad would not be returning to American soil.

Iran were knocked out of Group G after a 1-1 draw with Egypt, in which a late winner from Shoja Khalilzadeh was ruled out by VAR for an offside toes call. The result left Iran third in the group, eliminated on goal difference from the eight spots reserved for the best third-placed teams in the round of 32.

Mullin told reporters: “I’m just glad they’re done, and they’re not coming back. I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave US soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.” He also claimed Iran’s delegation had attempted to smuggle a person linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps into the United States — an allegation the Iran Football Federation flatly denied as “false, fabricated and entirely baseless.”

The Iranian squad’s preparations throughout the tournament were heavily disrupted by the diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The team was forced to relocate their training base from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico. Players were permitted to enter the United States only the day before each of their first two matches in Los Angeles, and two days before their final group game in Seattle, and were required to return to Mexico immediately after each fixture. Several staff members were refused visas entirely.

A federation spokesperson responded sharply to Mullin’s comments: “Iranians are used to the mistreatment and lies of US officials, so no one in Iran is surprised by these hostile remarks. These remarks once again demonstrate that US officials have no commitment to international law or the principles expected of a host nation capable of organising a global sporting event.”

The spokesperson continued: “The fact that he openly celebrates Iran’s elimination says far more about him than it does about our team. It reflects a level of pettiness that cannot even tolerate the presence of a football team competing on the world’s biggest stage.”

Iran’s head coach had previously suggested after the team’s match against New Zealand that the United States had not wanted Iran to advance in the tournament, citing what he described as inhumane and unprofessional treatment. The federation said Mullin’s latest remarks only reinforced that view.