US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin celebrated Iran's elimination from the World Cup during a security briefing in Washington, as reported by The Guardian via Sports Business Journal.
The Iranian national soccer team failed to advance to the knockout rounds after drawing all three matches in Group G.
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They finished as the ninth-best third-place team following a late goal by Austria against Algeria, while only the top eight third-place teams progressed.
Geopolitical tensions influenced the tournament as the US government restricted the movements of the Iranian squad.
The team relocated its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, and faced strict limits on their time in the US before and after matches.
Mullin openly shared his enthusiastic response to the team's exit during the Washington security event, noting that no other team required more attention from his department.
"So glad they're gone," Mullin said.
The official expressed relief that the team would be returning home following their elimination.
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"Very happy they're going back because there wasn't a single team that we dealt with more than them," he added.
Following the briefing, Mullin further detailed his reaction to reporters regarding the cancellation of the team's travel permissions.
"I'm just glad they're done, and they're not coming back.
I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave the U.
S.
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soil, and I might've sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance," he said.
