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US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was apparently very happy when Iran was eliminated from the World Cup.
Throughout the World Cup tournament, the Iranian national team was unable to stay in the United States between matches due to US visa restrictions amid the ongoing tensions between the two countries,
Last week, Iranian captain Mehdi Taremi ripped both FIFA and the U.S. for making the team travel to Mexico in between games.
“This is a disastrous World Cup. As professional players, we cannot play a tournament under these conditions; it is neither right nor fair. If FIFA thinks this is fair, that’s their business, but it isn’t. Who is supposed to solve this problem for us? FIFA? The U.S.? I don’t know! Give me a name,”
The captain of Iran’s National Team, Mehdi Taremi, calls out FIFA and the U.S.:
“This is a disaster World Cup. We can’t stay in the country and have to travel every time we play without any recovery. Now we can’t stay in Seattle and have to return to Tijuana. This is not fair.” pic.twitter.com/z0gLN07bkB
— Power to the People ☭🕊 (@ProudSocialist) June 27, 2026
Over the weekend, Iran was eliminated from the World Cup after failing to advance past the group stage.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin celebrated Iran’s elimination from the World Cup while speaking with reporters.
“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.”
The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran fired back at Mullin in a statement to The Athletic.
“Iranians are used to the mistreatment and lies of U.S. officials, so no one in Iran is surprised by these hostile remarks,” an FFIRI official, reacting to Mullin’s new public comments, said in a statement to The Athletic.
“These remarks once again demonstrate that U.S. officials have no commitment to international law or the principles expected of a host nation capable of organizing a global sporting event.
“The fact that he openly celebrates Iran’s elimination says far more about him than it does about our team. It reflects a level of pettiness that cannot even tolerate the presence of a football team competing on the world’s biggest stage.