President Donald Trump expressed concerns Thursday about Iran’s men’s soccer team participating in the upcoming 2026 World Cup, citing safety worries amid escalating regional tensions.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated: “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.”
The comments follow Wednesday’s announcement from Iran’s sports minister, who indicated his country’s athletes may not be able to compete following recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Tehran. These attacks have sparked a broader regional conflict that continues to intensify.
The upcoming tournament, featuring 48 teams, is set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 through July 19. Iran’s team has games scheduled in both Los Angeles and Seattle.
Should Iran formally withdraw from the tournament—which hasn’t occurred yet—it would mark the first such decision in modern World Cup history. FIFA would then face the challenging task of securing a replacement team on short notice.
Notably absent from last week’s FIFA planning conference in Atlanta, Iran was the sole qualifying nation that didn’t attend the World Cup preparation meeting.
FIFA has yet to respond to requests for comment. The organization notably presented Trump with its first-ever peace prize late last year, as the former president continues his campaign for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The situation has also affected Iranian women’s soccer. This week, Australia provided humanitarian visas to five female Iranian players who requested asylum, expressing fears of persecution if they returned home after refusing to sing their national anthem during an Asia Cup game.
Trump had previously encouraged Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to offer sanctuary to the Iranian women’s team members, indicating the United States would step in if Australia declined to help.
