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The Iranian men’s national football team has pushed back against remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting their safety could be at risk if they attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, deepening tensions as the tournament approaches amid a widening regional conflict.
Trump wrote Thursday on his Truth Social platform that while Iran’s team would be allowed to participate, he believed attending the tournament would be “not appropriate … for their own life and safety.”
His comments come as the United States co-hosts the 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico and as the countries remain embroiled in an ongoing war that began after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.
The Iranian national team responded with a statement on social media, rejecting the implication that a single country could determine participation in an international tournament.
“The World Cup is a historic and international event, and its governing body is FIFA, not any individual country,” the team wrote. “Certainly, no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup.”
The future of Iran’s participation has remained uncertain since the conflict escalated.
The Feb. 28 strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered Iranian counterattacks that have struck several countries involved in the World Cup, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said earlier this week that the country may not participate in the tournament under the current circumstances.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali said on state television.
Trump’s public comments appeared to contradict earlier statements from FIFA President Gianni Infantino. After meeting Trump earlier this week, Infantino said the U.S. president had assured him that Iran’s team would be welcome to compete in the tournament.
The White House has not clarified what specific risks Trump referred to when he warned about the team’s safety.
Despite the uncertainty, Iran remains officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup, one of 48 teams set to compete in the tournament scheduled from June 11 to July 19.
According to tournament plans, Iran is scheduled to play three group-stage matches on U.S. soil:
Iran’s soccer federation had also planned to establish a base camp in Tucson, Arizona, ahead of the matches.
Although Iran currently faces a U.S. travel ban as part of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, athletes and coaches are exempt, meaning the team would be permitted to enter the country for the tournament.
FIFA has continued to emphasize that preparations for the World Cup remain focused on security and inclusivity despite the political tensions.
The organization has stated that its priority is “to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating.” Earlier safety evaluations of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico hosting plan concluded that the three countries have established arrangements to manage security at stadiums and for high-profile participants.
Still, the conflict has already disrupted coordination around the tournament. Iran’s soccer federation did not attend FIFA planning meetings held in Atlanta last weekend.
The debate over Iran’s participation also reflects broader tensions around Iranian athletes competing abroad. Several athletes who challenged Iran’s political system in recent years have continued their careers outside the country.
During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Iran’s national team declined to sing the national anthem before a match against England in what many observers interpreted as a gesture linked to protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
With the 2026 tournament approaching, Iran’s final decision on participation could depend on how the geopolitical situation evolves in the coming months.
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