U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin celebrated Iran’s elimination from the World Cup, saying he did a “happy dance,” as reported by Sports Business Journal on Monday. The Iranian team narrowly missed the knockout rounds after drawing all three group matches and finishing as the ninth-best third-place team, following Austria’s last-minute goal against Algeria.
Mullin’s Reaction and Security Briefing
Speaking at a World Cup security briefing in Washington, Mullin expressed his joy, stating he was “so glad they’re gone” and “very happy they’re going back because there wasn’t a single team that we dealt with more than them.” He added, “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 the U.S. soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.”
Restrictions on Iranian Team
Amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions, the U.S. government restricted the Iranian team’s movements during the World Cup. Iran moved its planned training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. The U.S. limited the team’s time in the country before each match and required them to leave immediately after contests. Mullin claimed that “almost half” of Iran’s delegation had ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a claim the Iranian federation called “completely unsupported by any evidence.”
Iran Coach Slams Treatment
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team was treated “very unfairly,” urging FIFA to prevent hosts from similar behavior. Following a 1-1 draw with Egypt, he noted, “It was the host that wasn’t very good to us. I urge FIFA to not let the hosts treat teams and players the same way in the future. I hope Mr. Infantino will actually stand up to such behavior.” Ghalenoei added, “The United States’ behavior towards us has been really terrible and we hope the world will be aware of that. Despite all of these problems, we’ve been able to perform well and the world is proud of Iranians and our team.”
Iranian Team’s Farewell Notes
After their final matches, the Iranian team left notes in locker rooms. In Inglewood, California, after a scoreless draw with Belgium, the note read: “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.” In Seattle, after the Egypt match, the note stated: “Perhaps points can be won in many ways. Perhaps a team can advance from a group, but only through fairness and honor can one stand tall before history. Fair play is not a line in football’s rules; it is the soul of the game. Thank you, Seattle, for your hospitality, and thank you to all Iranians, who gave their hearts, voices, and their whole being for Iran.”
