Geneva: A war of words has erupted between Iran and the United States over Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump suggested in a social media post that the Iran national football team should reconsider travelling to the tournament, citing security concerns due to the ongoing conflict.
Trump said Iran would still be welcome at the World Cup but added that it might be safer for the team not to participate given the current circumstances. Earlier, Trump had stated that there was no issue with Iran participating and had assured FIFA President Gianni Infantino that the team would be welcomed.
Iran responds
The Iran national football team rejected Trump’s remarks, saying no individual has the authority to prevent a team from participating in the World Cup. In a post on social media, the team also suggested that if security concerns are the reason, the US team should also be excluded from the tournament.
Matches in the United States
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Iran’s three group matches are scheduled to take place in the United States:
- June 15: vs New Zealand – Inglewood, California
- June 21: vs Belgium
- June 26: vs Egypt – Seattle
Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donamali had earlier expressed concerns about the team’s ability to participate due to the current situation. However, the team management clarified that the World Cup is organised by FIFA, not by the US government or Donald Trump, and that Iran has the right to compete.
