The US Secretary of State for Security said that he was happy about Iran's withdrawal from the 2026 World Cup

US Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin did not hide his satisfaction with the fact that the Iranian national team completed its performances at the World Cup. The participation of the Iranian team remained in question for several months after the US and Israel carried out airstrikes on the country's territory in February. Despite the tense geopolitical situation, the team still came to the tournament, but it was accompanied by constant complaints about the actions of the American authorities. During a security briefing for the tournament, Mullin bluntly stated: "I'm just glad it's over with them and they're not coming back. I was so happy when we were able to cancel their visas and say they can leave the US. I might even sing a song or two or do a happy dance," the minister added. The American official justified his tough position by the fact that, according to him, almost half of the Iranian delegation, which did not participate in the matches, had direct ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iran was close to reaching the round of 16. In the third round, the Iranians could not beat Egypt, which is why they took third place in Quartet G. This was not enough to make it to the playoffs. It became a key moment in the decisive match The Iranians played all three matches on the territory of the United States: the first two in Los Angeles, and the last one in Seattle. However, the logistics of the team underwent changes even before the start of the competition. In May, Iran was forced to move its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican border city of Tijuana. The Iranian Football Federation has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment of the team by the US authorities. Head coach One of the main complaints was the strict demand of the local authorities: Iranian football players had to leave the field immediately after the final whistle. When asked about this rule, Markwayne Mullin noted that it was agreed upon in advance: "It was just our agreement to let them go. The game is over, let them go back to the hotel, to their base camp. They are more comfortable there. We made this agreement with FIFA before the games even started." On Tuesday, Iranian officials said the treatment of the team undermined their sense of fairness. They questioned whether all participants in the tournament really competed on equal terms and to the same professional standards, accusing the organizers of logistical decisions that affected the morale of the players. As they left the tournament, the Iranian team left a touching handwritten note addressed to the people of Mexico: "You have shown us that hosting the World Cup is much more than just stadiums and tickets. True hospitality is about respect, humanity and dignity. We will never forget the kindness of the people of Tijuana. From now on, Mexico will always be more than just a host country for us; it will be our second home and our second team."