"I might've sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance." That was US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, speaking at a World Cup security briefing in Washington on June 29, celebrating Iran's elimination from the tournament.
Iran finished with three draws in Group G — against Egypt, Belgium, and Algeria — but ended up as the ninth-best third-place team after Austria scored a late goal to eliminate them on the final matchday. The top eight third-place sides advanced to the round of 32. Iran missed out by the thinnest of margins.
Mullin didn't attempt to dress it up. "I'm just glad they're done, and they're not coming back," he told reporters. "I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and say they could leave US soil."
A tournament played under extraordinary restrictions
The context matters here. With the US and Iran in active military and political conflict, the Iranian squad spent the entire tournament operating under conditions no other nation faced. They were forced to relocate their training base from Tucson to Tijuana before the event even started. US authorities limited how long they could be on American soil before each match and required them to leave the country immediately after every game.
Mullin claimed that "almost half" of the people Iran wanted to bring to the World Cup were directly connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Iranian federation called that assertion "completely unsupported by any evidence."
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei didn't mince words after the final group match. "It was the host that wasn't very good to us," he said. "I urge FIFA to not let the hosts treat teams and players the same way in the future."
The notes left behind
Whatever your politics, the Iranian team's responses had a dignity worth noting. After the scoreless draw with Belgium in Inglewood, they left a note in the locker room: "We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honour, and leave with dignity." After the Egypt match in Seattle, another note: "Fair play is not a line in football's rules; it is the soul of the game."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino — who awarded Donald Trump the inaugural "FIFA Peace Prize" in December — has said nothing publicly about the treatment of the Iranian squad. Ghalenoei directly called on him to act: "I hope Mr. Infantino will actually stand up to such behaviour."
Iran are now preparing a formal complaint to FIFA. Whether that goes anywhere in the current political climate is a different question entirely.
