US and Iran call for each other’s World Cup absence
Tensions rise after Donald Trump questions Iran’s safety at the tournament, while officials in Iran insist only FIFA can decide who competes.
A dispute has emerged over 2026 FIFA World Cup participation after Donald Trump suggested it may not be safe for Iran to compete in the tournament.
The U.S. president said in a social media post that Iran would be “welcome to the World Cup” but added that it might not be appropriate for the team to attend “for their own life and safety.”
The tournament will be hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico starting June 11.
Iranian officials responded by stating that only FIFA, the governing body of world football, has the authority to determine which teams participate in the competition.
In a message shared on the national team’s Telegram account, Iranian officials insisted that no country has the power to exclude them from the tournament, noting that the team qualified through strong performances in the qualifiers.
The statement further suggested that if security concerns exist, the host country should address them rather than question Iran’s participation.
The controversy follows rising tensions in the region after military strikes involving the United States and Israel targeted Iran, an incident that reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, earlier suggested that the country might reconsider taking part in the tournament due to security concerns for the players.
Iran is currently scheduled to face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt during the group stage matches in the United States.
If Iran eventually withdraws from the tournament, FIFA regulations allow the organisation to select a replacement team, although it remains unclear which nation would take the spot.
