US Homeland Security chief boasts he 'danced' as Iran's controversial World Cup exit sealed

Markwayne Mullin, the US secretary of Homeland Security, publicly celebrated Iran’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup, telling reporters he sang songs and “maybe even danced a happy dance” after revoking the squad’s ESTA visas and watching them exit the tournament.

Iran’s exit was sealed in painful fashion. A 1-1 draw with Egypt left their fate in other teams’ hands, and a VAR ruling in stoppage time denied substitute Shoja Khalilzadeh what appeared to be a winning goal. An animated graphic suggested the call may have been settled by millimetres, with questions raised over the accuracy of the semi-automated system’s measurements.

The draw left Iran third in Group X on three points — level with other sides but undone by a neutral goal difference — as Senegal advanced from the third-place mini table on a +2 goal difference. Their fate was then confirmed when a 3-3 draw between Algeria and Austria, settled by Sasa Kalajdzic’s 95th-minute equaliser, ended any remaining hope.

Mullin did not soften his remarks. “I’m just glad they’re done, and they’re not coming back,” he told reporters. “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 added: “There wasn’t a single team that we had to spend more time dealing with than Iran.”

The comments land against a backdrop of sustained complaints from the Iranian camp about their treatment throughout the tournament. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said his side were the “most oppressed” team at the World Cup, citing travel restrictions, a training base relocation from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico before the competition began, and what he described as “less than half” the preparation time his squad needed.

Iran captain Mehdi Taremi echoed those grievances, warning that the political tension surrounding the team had undermined their ability to compete. Iran were also the only participating nation required to leave the United States immediately after matches played on US soil.