- Markwayne Mullin, head of the US Department of Homeland Security, expressed joy at Iran 's elimination from the World Cup, stating he "danced a happy dance" and was glad they were "not coming back".
- Mullin claimed the US faced significant difficulties dealing with the Iranian team and accused them of attempting to bring a person linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps into the country.
- The Iranian team's World Cup preparations were significantly hampered, including being forced to relocate their training base and facing strict entry and exit restrictions for matches in the US.
- The Iran Football Federation vehemently denied Mullin's accusation as "false, fabricated and entirely baseless" and criticised US officials for "mistreatment and lies".
- A spokesperson for the federation suggested Mullin's remarks reflected a "level of pettiness" and reinforced their belief that the US did not want Iran to remain in the tournament, referencing past US actions like the Minab bombing.
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