Iran's World Cup campaign has spilled into a political dispute after U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin openly celebrated the team's elimination, drawing a furious response from the Iranian Football Federation, which accused the United States of proving it was never a willing host.
Mullin made the remarks during a World Cup security briefing in Washington following Iran's group-stage exit, saying he was pleased the team had left the country after weeks of heightened security and diplomatic tensions.
"I'm just glad they're done, and they're not coming back," Mullin said. "I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave U.S. soil, and I might've sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance."
He also said there "wasn't a single team that we dealt with more than them" throughout the tournament.
The comments immediately sparked outrage in Iran, where football officials said the statement confirmed long-standing concerns that their delegation had been treated differently from every other nation at the tournament.
