Iran Hits Back at Trump Over World Cup Remarks

A dispute has emerged over Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after US President Donald Trump suggested it would not be appropriate for the Iranian team to take part because of safety concerns.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that Iran would technically be “welcome” at the tournament but questioned whether the team should attend.

“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,” he wrote.

However, a message posted on the Iranian team’s official Telegram channel pushed back strongly against the comments, arguing that the decision lies with FIFA rather than any individual host nation.

The statement suggested that if security concerns exist, then the host country should reconsider its role instead.

“Certainly, no-one can remove the Iranian national team from the World Cup,” the message said.
“Rather, the country that should be removed is the one that merely carries the title of host but does not have the ability to ensure security for the teams participating in this event.”

The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with matches scheduled to begin on 11 June.

Iran are currently scheduled to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June respectively, before facing Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

The uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation follows recent military escalation involving the United States and Israel, which carried out strikes on Iran earlier this month that reportedly killed the country’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran later responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and several Gulf states hosting US military bases, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier in the week, Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, said Trump had told him Iran would still be “welcome to compete” at the World Cup.

But Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, suggested his country might reconsider taking part.

Speaking to the IRIB Sports Network, he said: “Given that this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances do we have the appropriate conditions to participate in the World Cup.

“Our boys are not safe, and conditions for participation do not exist.”

Despite those remarks, Iran has not formally withdrawn from the tournament and appears determined to make its own decision on whether to participate.

If Iran ultimately decides to withdraw from what would be its fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, FIFA regulations allow the governing body to select a replacement team, although it remains unclear which nation could take that place.