Iran's football federation issued a statement celebrating the United States' elimination from the 2026 World Cup, declaring that 'the whole world is dancing' after the USMNT suffered a 4-1 defeat to Belgium. The statement took aim at former President Donald Trump, claiming that politics had been humiliated by football.
Iran's Statement and US Response
An Iran Football Federation spokesperson said: 'Now the whole world is dancing to celebrate politics' humiliating defeat by football.' The remarks came after US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin had previously celebrated Iran's group-stage exit, stating that he 'sang a song or two' and did a 'happy dance' when Iran failed to qualify.
Mullin said at a briefing in Washington: 'I'm just glad they're [Iran] 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 US soil, and I might've sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.'
Iran's Allegations of Mistreatment
Iran had complained of unfair treatment throughout the tournament. The team was initially set to base camp in Arizona but was forced to relocate to Mexico. Additionally, Iran was only allowed to travel to matches in the US one day beforehand and had to depart hours after each game. Eleven staff members, including federation president Mehdi Taj, were denied visas by US authorities.
The Iran Football Federation hit back at Mullin's comments, saying: 'Iranians are used to the mistreatment and lies of US officials, so no one in Iran is surprised by these hostile remarks. These remarks once again demonstrate that US officials have no commitment to international law or the principles expected of a host nation capable of organizing a global sporting event.'
Belgium's Victory and Controversy
Belgium's dominant 4-1 win knocked the US out in the round of 16. The match was marred by controversy as Belgium complained that US striker Folarin Balogun was allowed to play despite a red-card ban originally imposed by FIFA. Belgium's manager had also confronted Balogun directly about the issue.
Iran, which drew all three group matches but failed to advance, expressed gratitude to Mexico for their hospitality, leaving a message in Tijuana that read: 'You showed us that hosting a FIFA World Cup is about far more than stadiums and tickets. True hosting is about respect, humanity, and dignity.'
