United States President Donald Trump has warned that Iran’s national football team may face safety risks if they travel to North America for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, despite saying the team is technically welcome to compete.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Iranian team could participate in the tournament but suggested that doing so might not be advisable given the current geopolitical climate.
“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,” Trump wrote.
The president’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February, which triggered an ongoing regional conflict and raised concerns about the safety of Iranian players traveling abroad.
Earlier, however, Trump had reassured FIFA president Gianni Infantino during a meeting at the White House that Iran’s national team would be allowed to compete in the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The footballing body’s president later confirmed that the situation in Iran was discussed during the meeting, adding that the U.S. president reiterated that the Iranian team would be welcome to participate in the global football event.
The ongoing war has cast uncertainty over Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, which is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across the three host nation of USA, Mexico and Canada.
Meanwhile, the crisis has already affected Iranian football beyond the men’s national team.
Trump recently commented on the case of Iranian women footballers who sought asylum in Australia after refusing to sing the national anthem before an Asian Cup match, expressing support for their protection.
Although no official decision has been made about Iran’s participation, the evolving political tensions continue to raise questions about whether the team will eventually take part in the tournament.
