Markwayne Mullin, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, expressed his joy over Iran’s exit from the World Cup, a sentiment labeled as “hostile” by the Iranian football federation.
In the lead-up to the tournament, uncertainty surrounded Iran’s participation following airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel in February. Despite the turmoil, Iran competed and narrowly missed qualifying for the knockout stage after tying all three group matches, including a controversial offside call that denied them a win against Egypt.
The Iranian federation lodged several complaints regarding their treatment by U.S. authorities, with coach Amir Ghalenoei declaring his team the “most oppressed” at the World Cup.
On Tuesday, the federation stated that their experience at the tournament “undermined the sense of fairness.”
During a briefing on World Cup security, Mullin stated, “I’m just glad they’re done, and they’re not coming back. I was so happy when we could revoke their visas and see them leave U.S. soil; I might have even danced out of joy.”
In response, Iran’s football federation issued a statement expressing little surprise at Mullin’s remarks, interpreting them as indicative of their unwelcomeness at the tournament. They criticized the U.S. for perceived hostility and past mistreatment, emphasizing that “Iranians are accustomed to the mistreatment and falsehoods of U.S. officials.”
The statement continued, “These comments reiterate that U.S. officials lack commitment to international law and the expectations of a host nation capable of handling a global sporting event. Celebrating our team’s elimination reveals a pettiness that cannot coexist with the presence of our football team on the world stage.”
The federation noted their head coach’s belief that the United States did not want Iran to remain in the competition due to the unprofessional treatment experienced during their time there, a sentiment that Mullin’s latest comments seem to corroborate.
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Iran relocated their training camp to Tijuana, Mexico, in May after initially planning to base themselves in Tucson, Arizona. All three of their matches were played in the United States, with two in Los Angeles and the final in Seattle.
Among their grievances during the World Cup was the requirement by U.S. authorities for them to leave immediately after each match.
When asked about this stipulation, Mullin explained, “It was simply an agreement we had—allowing them to return to their base camp where they would be more comfortable. We worked this out with FIFA before the tournament commenced.”
Mullin noted that “nearly half” of Iran’s non-playing delegation had connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
FIFA has been approached for a comment on the matter.
The Iranian team left a handwritten note for the people of Mexico, which read: “You have shown us that hosting a FIFA World Cup means much more than just stadiums and tickets. True hosting embodies respect, humanity, and dignity. The kindness of the people of Tijuana will never be forgotten. From this moment on, Mexico will always be more than a host nation; it will be our second home, our second team.”
They concluded with a question, asking whether every team competed under equal conditions and standards, reflecting on how their experiences were marred by decisions and logistical issues that compromised fairness—an impression heightened by the final matchday of their group.