Iran Eliminated from 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage

Iran's national football team, under the management of Amir Ghalenoei, faced elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup during the group stage, marking their third World Cup participation. The team drew hope from their matches but ultimately fell short, including a narrow 1-1 draw against Egypt that featured a controversial offside goal.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin expressed happiness over Iran's exit, stating, "so happy Iran go home." This tournament was significant as it was the first World Cup hosted in North America since 1994.

The Iranian team faced challenges, including complaints regarding their treatment by U.S. entities. Additionally, two Iranian athletes had their visas revoked prior to the tournament, and the team trained in Tijuana, Mexico, after initially considering Arizona as their training site.