March 13, 2026 | 10:30 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - United States President Donald Trump said it would not be appropriate for Iran’s national football team to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing concerns for the players’ safety amid the ongoing conflict 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 said on Truth Social on Thursday, March 12, 2026, as reported by The Guardian.
The statement comes two days after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he had received assurances from Trump that Iran would be accepted in the tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Infantino shared this after meeting with Trump to discuss tournament preparations and the situation in Iran.
“We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the Fifa World Cup 2026,” Infantino wrote in a post on Instagram.
During the meeting, Trump reaffirmed that the Iranian team would still be welcome to compete.
“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world,” Infantino added.
Meanwhile, Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday that Iran might not be able to participate in the World Cup due to security concerns, marking the first official comment from Tehran regarding the tournament since the United States, with support from Israel, launched an attack on Iran earlier this month.
As of now, neither Iran nor FIFA has issued an official update regarding the country’s final participation decision. In the tournament draw, Iran is placed in Group G with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. The team’s three group-stage matches are scheduled to take place in the United States, with two games in Los Angeles and one match in Seattle.
Read: Iran Signals 2026 World Cup Boycott After US Strikes
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