Amidst the ongoing 2026 World Cup hosted in the USA, a new scandal has erupted that extends far beyond the football pitch. The Football Federation of Iran publicly mocked the US national team following their elimination by Belgium, turning the Americans' sporting defeat into a political triumph.
The official statement from the Iranian side, published on Instagram, served as a direct response to recent provocative remarks by US officials. The federation's social media featured a collage vividly illustrating the difference in results between the two teams against the "Red Devils." While the Iranians drew with Belgium (0:0), the Americans suffered a crushing defeat with a score of 1:4.
The caption accompanying the post delivered a blow to the reputation of the tournament hosts: "Right now, the whole world is dancing to celebrate the humiliating defeat of politics by football."
Response to the Minister's Words
This attack was a reaction to a scandalous statement by US Homeland Security Minister Markwayne Mullin. Previously, the official publicly expressed joy that the Iranian team had failed to advance from the group stage, linking this to migration issues.
"I'm just glad it's over with them. I was so happy when we managed to revoke their visas and tell them they had to leave US territory. I could have even danced a happy dance," RBC-Ukraine quotes Mullin as saying.
In response, the Iranian federation emphasized that such statements demonstrate a complete disregard for international law and standards that host countries of global sporting forums are obligated to uphold.
Accumulated Grievances and Pressure
The current trolling summarized a series of conflicts between Iran and the organizers of the 2026 World Cup. Throughout the tournament, the Iranian side complained about bias and systemic pressure.
One of the most high-profile incidents was the detention of star Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi at an American airport. This precedent sparked a wave of criticism directed at US authorities.
Furthermore, the team's head coach, Amir Ghaleno, repeatedly criticized the organization of the championship. Following draws with New Zealand (2:2) and Egypt (1:1), he stated that his team felt "the most oppressed" at the tournament due to disallowed goals and associated scandals.
Intervention by the US President
The tension was further heightened by the fact that, on the eve of the match, the US received dubious assistance from FIFA. The organization's disciplinary committee suddenly suspended the suspension of forward Folarin Balogun.
This move occurred after US President Donald Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, which sparked a wave of criticism in global media. However, even such intervention failed to save the Americans from a fiasco on the field.
