DHS secretary glad Iran is out of World Cup, says he did 'happy dance' when visas pulled

Iran’s World Cup team and the U.S. government are equally glad to be done with each other.

Markwayne Mullin, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said Monday, June 29 that he was “so glad” Iran had been eliminated from the tournament. Team Melli failed to make the knockout rounds after Algeria and Austria’s 3-3 tie gave Les Fennecs the last of the eight spots for third-place teams.

“I’m just glad they’re done and not coming back,” Mullin said. “I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas. … I might have sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.”

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei and his players complained repeatedly about their treatment by the U.S. government at this World Cup, the result of the political turmoil between the United States and Iran.

Team Melli originally planned to have their base camp in Tucson, Arizona, but were forced to move it to Tijuana, Mexico, at the eleventh hour because of the U.S. government’s restrictions. Several members of Iran’s delegation, including the soccer federation, president, were denied visas, as were family members and fans.

Iran even pleaded its case to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who visited the team in its locker room after its first game.

“He said it’s just the beginning. But the group stage finishes tomorrow,” forward Mehdi Taremi said after Iran’s final group-stage game, a draw with Egypt on Friday, June 26.

“We love Tijuana. It’s so good. They are so humble people. We love them,” Taremi said. “But as professional players, professional competition, it’s not right. … By our opinion, it’s not fair.”

Mullin said U.S. officials told the Iranians they could come to the United States five days before the tournament began, or June 6. But most teams arrived at their base camps two weeks before the tournament began, so Iran moved to Tijuana.

With all three of Iran’s group-stage games in the United States, the team had asked permission to arrive two days ahead of time. Instead, Iran was only allowed to arrive 24 hours in advance of the first two, in Los Angeles, and made to leave the United States immediately after.

Restrictions were eased ahead of the third game, in Seattle. Iran arrived two days before that match.

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force, downplayed Iran’s complaint about its arrivals and departures, saying it’s no different than what NFL teams do after their games.

It’s also what many World Cup teams, including the United States men’s national team, are doing, Giuliani said.

The difference is those teams made their own travel choices. Iran was told when it could arrive and leave.

“You cannot deny that our situation has (not) been the same as all the other teams,” midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi said after Iran arrived less than 16 hours before its second group-stage game.

Mullin also defended not issuing visas to members of Iran’s delegation, saying they had ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. The United States and several other nations have designated the IGRC as a terrorist organization.

Mullin did not offer proof of those ties.

“There was no one, NO ONE, not a single team we had issues with like we did with Iran,” Mullin said. “So, once again, I’ve talked about them enough. They’re gone. They’re out of the tournament. We do not have to deal with them anymore.”