Iran’s national team used its official social media account to take a cheeky swipe at the United States after the Americans were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup, turning a sporting result into a pointed political joke.
The U.S., one of the tournament’s co-hosts, were beaten 4-1 by Belgium in the round of 16. Shortly after the final whistle, Iran’s official page posted an image highlighting the result with the caption, ‘Dance with me!’
The message was widely read as a response to comments made days earlier by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who said he had been “so happy” to see Iran eliminated and joked that he may have “danced a happy dance” after the team’s exit.
Iran’s post also pointed to another detail: Belgium had scored four against the U.S., but had only managed a 0-0 draw with Iran in the group stage. The comparison was a subtle reminder that Iran had held the Belgians to a stalemate even though they later thrashed the hosts.
The post came amid a tense tournament for Iran, whose participation was overshadowed by visa disputes and travel restrictions. In the build-up to the World Cup, several members of the delegation were denied U.S. visas, prompting the team to relocate its base camp to Tijuana, Mexico, and to complain about what it described as discriminatory treatment.
Iran’s football federation had already bristled at what it saw as hostile rhetoric from Washington. After Mullin’s remarks, the federation said Iranians were used to mistreatment from U.S. officials and argued that celebrating a team’s elimination reflected pettiness rather than any sporting principle.
On the pitch, Iran’s campaign ended in frustration. They drew all three of their group matches and were left to regret a late offside decision that denied them a crucial victory in their final game against Egypt.
Iran’s frustration during the tournament went beyond results. The federation repeatedly complained about the handling of its players and staff, while coach Amir Ghalenoei called the squad the “most oppressed” team at the competition.
The political backdrop was also unusually intense. Months of conflict between the United States and Iran had already turned the World Cup into a diplomatic flashpoint, with FIFA trying to keep all 48 nations in the tournament while host-nation security and visa policy remained under scrutiny.
Mullin’s comments only added to that tension. Speaking at a World Cup security briefing, he said: “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. soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.”
Iran’s federation responded sharply, saying the remarks showed a lack of respect for both the team and the broader principles of a host nation. It also pointed to earlier comments from the team’s management, who had warned before the tournament that the political climate was making Iran’s World Cup experience unusually difficult.
Belgium’s players, meanwhile, celebrated their win over the United States with a viral dance of their own, echoing the playful tone of the wider social-media exchange that has followed the match.