Rabat – President Donald Trump has said he does not believe it is appropriate for Iran’s national football team to participate in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, raising concerns about the team’s safety if they travel to the tournament.
In a short message posted Thursday on Truth Social, the U.S. president said the Iranian team is technically welcome but suggested their presence could create risks.
“The Iranian 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 wrote in the post.
The statement appeared to contradict comments made earlier in the week during a meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Infantino had shared a message on Instagram saying Trump had reassured him that Iran’s national team would be allowed to compete in the tournament.
The meeting took place in Washington, D.C., according to the White House. Officials confirmed the discussion between Trump and the FIFA president, saying the American leader had indicated that Iran would be welcome at the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Trump’s latest remarks have now created uncertainty around that reassuring message.
Earlier this month, Trump had also commented on Iran’s place in the tournament during an interview with Politico. At the time, he said he did not care whether Iran took part.
Read also: What Will Happen if Iran is Unable to Compete in World Cup 2026?
The situation surrounding Iran’s participation has become more complicated following rising tensions in the Middle East. Recent military actions involving the United States and Israel against Iran have significantly increased political tensions in the region.
Iran had already qualified for the World Cup and was expected to play group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
However, Iranian officials have suggested that participation may no longer be possible. Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said the country’s team cannot currently take part in the tournament due to security concerns.
“Given the current situation, our players do not have the safety required to travel and compete,” Donyamali said in comments broadcast on Iranian state television.
According to reports, Iranian representatives were also absent from a recent World Cup planning meeting held in Atlanta involving the national associations set to compete in the tournament.
For now, FIFA has not announced any official decision regarding Iran’s status in the competition. The governing body is expected to review the situation as political tensions continue to affect preparations for the tournament.