World Cup 2026: USA security chief Markwayne Mullin ‘danced a happy dance’ after Iran exit

The US homeland security chief said Iran was “doing a happy dance” during its elimination from the World Cup.

Iran missed out on advancing to the group stage on goal difference after an injury-time winner against Egypt was disallowed for a marginal offside.

Coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team was the “most pressured” team in the tournament, amid his country’s conflict with the United States and Israel.

Iran’s training base was shifted from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico before the start of the World Cup and they faced travel restrictions.

Despite a 1-1 draw with Egypt on Saturday, Iran still had a chance to become one of the eight best-placed teams in third place.

However, their elimination was confirmed when Algeria and Austria played out a dramatic 3-3 draw on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Department of Homeland Security secretary Markwayne Mullin said: “I’m glad they’re done and they’re not coming back.

“When we were able to get their visas and tell them they could leave U.S. soil, I was so happy and I could sing a song or two, maybe even do a happy dance.”

He added: “There wasn’t a single team we had to spend more time on than Iran.”

Iran was only allowed to enter the United States the day before its first two games and had to leave the same day as the game due to visa requirements.

For the final group game in Seattle, those restrictions were eased and they were allowed to arrive two days early, but they had to return to Tijuana again after Saturday’s game.

Iran coach Ghalenoei said the United States, which hosts the World Cup along with Canada and Mexico, “treated us very unfairly” and that his team was given “less than half” of the training time it needed to prepare.

Iran captain Mehdi Taremi added: “Such tensions undermine the joy of the World Cup. I felt the tension from the first moment we arrived.”