DHS Secretary Celebrates Iran's FIFA Cup Exit Amid Tensions

Washington DC, United States Jul 1, 2026 ALN: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin celebrated Iran’s elimination from the FIFA Cup, expressing his joy by doing a “happy dance,” as reported by Sports Business Journal.

The Iranian team narrowly missed advancing to the knockout rounds of the tournament. They drew all three of their matches in Group G, finishing as the ninth-best third-place team after Austria scored a last-minute goal against Algeria in the final group-stage match. The top eight third-place teams earned spots in the round of 32.

Mullin did not hide his excitement regarding Iran's exit. Speaking at a Cup security briefing in Washington, he stated he was “so glad they’re gone” and expressed relief that they were “very happy to be going back because there wasn’t a single team that we dealt with more than them.”

With the United States currently engaged in military and political tensions with Iran, the U.S. government imposed restrictions on the Iranian soccer team’s movements during the Cup. Prior to the event, Iran moved its planned training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. The U.S. limited the time the Iranian team could spend in the country before each match and required them to leave immediately after each contest.

Following the briefing, Mullin remarked, “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 say they could leave U.S. soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.”

Mullin claimed that “almost half” of the individuals Iran wanted to bring to the U.S. for the Cup were directly linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a statement that the Iranian federation refuted as “completely unsupported by any evidence.”

Iran's coach, Amir Ghalenoei, criticized the treatment of his team during the tournament, stating they were treated “very unfairly.” After Iran’s 1-1 draw against Egypt, he urged FIFA to ensure that host nations do not mistreat teams and players in the future. He expressed hope that FIFA President Gianni Infantino would address such behavior.

Infantino is known for his close ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, having awarded Trump the inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize” in December.

Ghalenoei further stated, “The United States’ behavior towards us has been really terrible, and we hope they will be aware of that. Despite all of these problems, we’ve been able to perform well, and the team is proud of Iranians and our team. I think that’s our greatest achievement despite all the obstacles and hurdles they put in our way.”

After their final two matches, the Iranian team left notes in the locker room for their hosts. One note, left in Inglewood, California, after a scoreless draw with Belgium, 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.”

Another note left in Seattle 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.”