Araghchi Criticises US Homeland Security Chief Over Remarks on Iran's World Cup Exit

‘You Have No Business Hosting an International Tournament’: Araghchi Tells Mullin

TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticised US Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin over comments he made following Iran's exit from the FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Araghchi shared a news headline on X claiming that Mullin performed a “happy dance” after Iran was eliminated from the tournament and accused the US official of behaving in a manner unbecoming of a host nation.

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

Mullin had previously welcomed Iran's elimination from the tournament, saying he was pleased that the Iranian team had been knocked out and arguing that the United States should not be celebrating a team representing what he described as a hostile regime. His remarks and reported celebration drew criticism from Iranian officials and some observers who said political disputes should remain separate from sport.

Iran's World Cup campaign ended after Team Melli failed to progress from Group G. The Iranian side collected three points from three draws and narrowly missed out on a place in the knockout rounds after failing to finish among the tournament's best third-placed teams.

The FIFA World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the controversy has added a political dimension to a tournament already taking place amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Iran needed a winner in the Austria-Algeria match. Any victory for either side would have opened the door for Team Melli to reach the knockout stage; however the draw was the only result that knocked Iran out.

For a few minutes, Iran were actually on course to reach the Round of 32 because Algeria were leading Austria 3-2 in stoppage time. However, Austria scored a dramatic late equaliser, making it 3-3 and changing the third-placed rankings, which allowed both teams to qualify and pushed Iran out of the eight best third-placed teams.