Iran slams US over World Cup conduct after official celebrates Team Melli's elimination

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the United States proved itself unworthy of hosting the FIFA World Cup after US secretary of homeland security openly celebrated Iran's elimination and departure from the tournament.

Araghchi made the remarks in a post on X after Markwayne Mullin said during a World Cup security briefing that he was pleased to see Iran eliminated from the competition and leaving the US.

“'Mission Accomplished,' Mr. Mullin. You also accomplished something else: proving to the world that you have no business hosting an international tournament. Your conduct has been a masterclass for how to squander the dignity that comes with being a host,” Araghchi said on Tuesday.

On Monday, Mullin admitted he celebrated Iran's exit from the tournament, saying, “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.”

His provocative remarks came after Iran had spent the tournament based in the Mexican city of Tijuana because repeated US visa denials and logistical restrictions prevented the team from using its original training camp in Arizona.

Several members of the Iranian team were also refused visas, forcing Team Melli to train in Mexico and travel across the border for matches in the US. For its opening two games in Los Angeles, the team was permitted to enter the country only the night before kickoff and was required to return to Mexico immediately after each match.

Iran's Football Federation also denounced Mullin's remarks, saying they confirmed what the team had experienced throughout the tournament.

“Iranians are used to the mistreatment and lies of US officials, so no one in Iran is surprised by these hostile remarks,” the federation said.

It added, “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.”

The federation also stressed that Mullin's public celebration of Iran's elimination reflected “a level of pettiness” rather than the performance of the Iranian team and reinforced the view that the delegation had never been genuinely welcomed by the host country.

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Before departing, Team Melli left a handwritten message thanking the people of Tijuana for their "kindness."

The team said “the world saw both the injustice suffered by Iranian football and the strength of a people who, despite every difficulty, never traded away their honor and dignity.”

It also raised concerns about the conditions under which it competed, writing, “We leave this World Cup with pride, but also with one fundamental question: Did every team truly compete under equal conditions and equal professional standards? What we experienced was a series of decisions, logistical arrangements, and circumstances that undermined the sense of fairness.”

Echoing those concerns, head coach Amir Ghalenoei also described Iran as the “most oppressed” team at the tournament.

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