Trump warns Iran against 2026 World Cup participation for team’s safety
US President Donald Trump
Abdullateef Fowewe
United States President Donald Trump has questioned Iran’s potential involvement in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted in the United States, citing safety concerns for the Iranian national soccer team.
“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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said in a statement on Thursday.
The remarks come in response to Iran’s sports minister announcing that the team would boycott the tournament.
The minister cited the recent U.S. assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as reason to avoid what he called a “malicious” presence in the U.S.-hosted event.
Trump’s conditional welcome starkly contrasts the minister’s outright rejection, highlighting athlete safety amid U.S.-Iran hostilities.
Recall that tensions have intensified since Trump’s 2025 inauguration, including direct military strikes and mutual threats.
However, FIFA has not yet commented on the dispute as of the time of filing this report
