USA security chief 'danced a happy dance' after Ir...

By Priya Nair — 30 June 2026 — 4 min read

USA Homeland Security Secretary reacts to Iran’s elimination

The United States‘ head of homeland security, Markwayne Mullin, expressed his satisfaction following Iran‘s elimination from the World Cup, stating he “danced a happy dance.” Mullin’s comments were made to reporters on Monday, where he also mentioned singing a song or two in celebration of Iran’s departure from the tournament. He highlighted the significant amount of time spent dealing with the Iranian team compared to others.

Mullin further indicated that he was pleased they were “done” and “not coming back.” He recounted his happiness when their visas were pulled, allowing them to leave US soil. According to Mullin, almost half of the individuals Iran sought to bring to the US for the World Cup were directly linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an assertion the Iranian federation disputed as unsupported by evidence.

Iran‘s journey in the tournament concluded after they failed to qualify from the group stage. Their elimination was confirmed following a 3-3 draw between Algeria and Austria on Sunday. Despite a 1-1 draw with Egypt on Saturday, which saw a stoppage-time winner disallowed for offside, Iran missed out on advancing based on goal difference. They finished as the ninth-best third-placed team, with only the top eight third-placed teams progressing to the round of 32.

Mehdi Taremi speaks into a microphone while conducting a press conference Credit: bbc.com

Travel restrictions and team frustrations

The Iranian team faced considerable travel restrictions and logistical challenges throughout their World Cup participation. Their training base was relocated from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, before the tournament commenced. Initially, Iran was only permitted to enter the US the day before their first two matches and had to depart on the same day under their visa terms. These restrictions were somewhat eased for their final group game in Seattle, allowing them to arrive two days in advance, though they still had to return to Tijuana after the match.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei voiced strong criticism regarding the treatment of his team by the US, a co-host of the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. Ghalenoei described the treatment as “very unfair” and stated that his squad received “less than half” of the necessary training window for preparation. He urged FIFA to prevent future host nations from treating teams in a similar manner, hoping FIFA president Gianni Infantino would address such behavior.

Mehdi Taremi, Iran‘s captain, echoed these sentiments, noting that the tension undermined the joy of the World Cup. He felt the tension from the moment they arrived. Taremi also recounted being held up by US authorities at border control in Los Angeles and later at Tijuana airport alongside assistant coach Saeed Alhoei, which delayed the team’s travel. He described it as a “disaster World Cup,” questioning the fairness of the situation.

Mehdi Taremi and his Iran team-mates applaud supporters after their 1-1 draw against Egypt in Seattle Credit: nytimes.com

FIFA’s role and team’s message

FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited Iran‘s dressing room after their opening 2-2 draw with New Zealand at SoFi Stadium. He told the players they were sending a strong message and uniting the stadium, encouraging them to continue playing with heart. Despite this, Taremi later expressed frustration, noting Infantino’s comments about the beginning of the World Cup when the group stage was nearing its end.

The political tensions between the US and Iran cast a shadow over Iran‘s participation. Four of the 15 Iranian staff members initially denied visas were eventually granted entry after appealing to the State Department. However, some staff members, including the Iranian Football Federation secretary-general Hedayat Mombeini and vice-president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, were reportedly denied visas.

The Iranian team left notes for the hosts after their final two matches. Following a scoreless draw with Belgium in Inglewood, California, a note read: “From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilised Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast. We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honour, and leave with dignity.” The note left in Seattle emphasized fair play: “Perhaps points can be won in many ways. Perhaps a team can advance from a group, but only through fairness and honour 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.”

Iran's Mehdi Taremi walks on to the pitch before the group G match against Egypt Credit: nytimes.com

Iran‘s coach Amir Ghalenoei commented on the US’s behavior towards them as “really terrible,” hoping the world would be aware of it, and expressed pride in his team’s performance despite the obstacles.