U.S. President Donald Trump has cast doubt on Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stating on Thursday, March 12, 2026, that the team should not compete in the United States for “their own safety.” The statement comes just two days after Trump assured FIFA President Gianni Infantino that Iranian players would be welcome despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. This message followed a declaration on Wednesday from Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, who asserted that “there are no conditions” for his country to participate in the tournament after the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the recent Israeli, and U.S. Offensive that began on February 28.
“After the corrupt government assassinated our leader, there are no conditions that would allow us to participate in the World Cup… They have imposed two wars on us in eight or nine months, and thousands of our citizens have died. We definitely have no possibility of such participation,” Donyamali said.
Three Matches Scheduled in the U.S.
On Tuesday, Infantino met with Trump at the White House, where the U.S. President conveyed that the Iranian team was “welcome.” “We spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate. During the conversation, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino revealed on Instagram.
The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, kicking off on June 11. Iran was scheduled to play all three of its group stage matches in the U.S.: against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, and against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. In November, President Trump had guaranteed visas for Iranian players and coaches to enter the United States, but not for fans, citing national security concerns. This tournament is set to be a landmark event, expanding to 48 teams for the first time, and the uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation adds another layer of complexity to the competition.
DZC (EFE, AFP)
