United States President Donald Trump has said that he does not believe it is “appropriate” for Iran’s men’s soccer team to participate in the World Cup, warning that it may be a risk for “their own life and safety.”
In a 41-word statement posted on Trump-owned platform Truth Social on Thursday morning, Trump appeared to U-turn on what he told FIFA president Gianni Infantino less than 48 hours ago. On Tuesday night, Infantino posted on Instagram to say he had met with Trump in Washington D.C. and that Trump “reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament.”
The White House subsequently confirmed the meeting had taken place, with White House sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, also telling The Athletic that Trump met with Infantino and told him that Iran’s soccer team is welcome to participate at this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
For FIFA, it was a significant respite after Trump, in an interview with Politico last week, responded to a question about Iran’s participation in the World Cup. “I really don’t care (if Iran participates),” he said. “I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”
Infantino hailed Trump’s commitment this week, posting on Instagram to say he “sincerely thanked” the U.S. president and “it shows once again that Football Unites the World.”
Infantino had given assurances that Iran was welcome at the World Cup earlier this week (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Yet now Trump appears to have changed his position once more. His post on Truth Social read: “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.”
The Athletic has approached the White House for comment, asking if they are able to expand on or explain why Trump considers it inappropriate for the Iranian team to play in the World Cup and what has changed since earlier this week, when the messaging was that the team would be welcome to participate.
The Athletic has approached FIFA for comment, with a host nation’s government appearing to threaten the safety and security of World Cup participants. Iran qualified for the World Cup last year and is scheduled to play group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
The tournament has been plunged into uncertainty following the American and Israeli military attacks on Iran, which killed Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered retaliatory strikes by Iran across the Middle East.
Iran’s participation in the World Cup has become uncertain, with Iranian representatives missing last week from a World Cup planning meeting in Atlanta involving all competing federations.
Trump’s post on Thursday about the World Cup followed comments from Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, who said he wished to continue to block the key oil route across the Strait of Hormuz, which is likely to pose further challenges to oil markets, while also threatening further strikes on U.S. bases in the region.
On Wednesday, despite Trump and Infantino’s previous assurances, the Iranian sports minister told state television Wednesday that, following U.S. military attacks on the country, the soccer team “certainly” cannot participate in the World Cup.
“Given that this corrupt (U.S.) regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances do we have the conditions to participate in the World Cup,” Ahmad Donyamali said, according to multiple translations of his comments from Persian to English.
“Our players do not have security, and fundamentally the conditions for participation do not exist.” Iran had not, at that stage, formally communicated any decision to FIFA.