U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the Iran national soccer team is “welcome” to compete at the FIFA World Cup in the United States, but advised the team not to participate for “their own life and safety.”
Trump wrote on the social media site Truth Social: “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! President DONALD J. TRUMP”.
Iran was due to play two matches in Los Angeles in June — against New Zealand and Belgium — before facing Egypt in Seattle in the teams’ final group stage match.
On Wednesday, the Iranian sports minister said that Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup following airstrikes against the country by the United States and Israel.
“Given that this corrupt government assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Ahmad Donyamali reportedly told Iranian state television.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the first day of attacks. He has since been succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.
Iran is in Group G, but its participation was thrown into doubt after the U.S. and Israel began launching airstrikes on Feb. 28.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had posted on social media on Wednesday that Trump had assured him Iran would be “welcome” to compete.–ESPN
