The Iran men’s soccer team says “no one” can exclude them from the 2026 World Cup after United States President Donald Trump warned their participation may be a risk for “their own life and safety.”
In a post on Trump-owned platform Truth Social on Thursday morning, Trump said he did not believe it would be “appropriate” if Iran were at the World Cup. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had said on Tuesday night that he had met Trump in Washington D.C. and the president had “reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament.”
A statement posted by the Iran soccer team’s official Instagram account on Thursday insisted their participation at the tournament would not be determined by “any individual (or) country”. The statement also appeared to criticise the security arrangements in the U.S. for the World Cup, and suggested it was the co-hosts who should be blocked from participating.
“The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA — not any individual, country,” the statement read. “Iran’s national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament.
“Certainly, no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup; the only country that could be excluded is one that merely carries the title of “host” yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event.”
The Athletic has contacted FIFA and the White House for comment.
Iran qualified for the World Cup last year and is scheduled to play group stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Iran’s participation in the tournament has become uncertain following the U.S. and Israeli military strikes on the country, which killed Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Retaliatory strikes across the Middle East have followed.
Iranian representatives missed a World Cup planning meeting in Atlanta involving all competing federations last week. This week, the Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali told state television that, following U.S. military attacks on the country, the soccer team “certainly” cannot participate in the World Cup.
On Tuesday, Infantino said he had spoken with Trump and received assurances Iran would be welcome at the tournament after the pair met in Washington D.C. The White House confirmed the meeting on Wednesday morning.
However, on Thursday, Trump posted on 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.”
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.