Overview
- The comments, made Monday, June 29, came from Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin who said he was "so glad" Iran were out, that officials "pulled" visas and that he "might have... danced a happy dance."
- Iran were forced to base in Tijuana and were allowed into the U.S. only one or two days before matches, with some federation officials denied visas and the team required to return to Mexico after each game.
- On the field Iran were eliminated on goal difference after a late potential winner against Egypt was overturned by VAR for a marginal offside, a finish that intensified scrutiny of whether off-field rules affected their chances.
- Mullin alleged many in Iran’s travelling party had direct ties to the IRGC and used that claim to justify visa denials, a charge the Iran Football Federation called "false, fabricated and entirely baseless" and for which no public evidence has been released.
- The dispute highlights how U.S.-Iran geopolitical tensions entering 2026 have bled into World Cup logistics, with FIFA contacted about arrangements and the episode likely to fuel diplomatic criticism and calls for clearer host-country protocols.