Trump says Iran should not play in World Cup because of security fears, saying the Iranian national team’s “life and safety” could be at risk if they travel to the United States.
The comments from Donald Trump came despite earlier assurances to football authorities that Iran would be allowed to compete in the tournament.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: “The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate.”
He added that participation could be dangerous for the players given the ongoing war involving Iran and Western allies in the Middle East.
“I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Trump wrote in the message.
The remarks created confusion because earlier comments suggested the United States would welcome the Iranian team to the tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The tournament will also be the first expanded World Cup featuring 48 national teams competing across North America.
Iran successfully qualified for the competition before tensions escalated between Washington and Tehran earlier this month.
The Iranian team remains officially listed among the qualified teams despite uncertainty surrounding the country’s participation.
Earlier this week, Gianni Infantino suggested the Iranian team would be welcomed at the competition.
Infantino revealed he had spoken with Trump about the geopolitical situation surrounding Iran and the World Cup.
Writing on Instagram, Infantino said discussions focused partly on Iran’s participation in the global football tournament.
“We also spoke about the current situation in Iran,” Infantino wrote while describing the conversation with the US president.
He added that Iran had already qualified to participate in the upcoming competition hosted in North America.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said.
The FIFA president emphasized that international football should unite people even during periods of political tension.
“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever,” Infantino wrote.
He also thanked Trump for supporting the idea that football could act as a unifying global event.
However, Trump’s later social media comments appeared to introduce a different perspective.
While not banning Iran outright, he suggested participation might place players in unnecessary danger.
Observers said the statements created uncertainty about whether Iranian players would travel to the United States for matches.
Security concerns have become more prominent since hostilities escalated between Iran, Israel and the United States.
The war has raised questions about diplomatic relations and travel between the countries involved in the conflict.
Iranian officials have already begun reacting to the possibility that the national team might withdraw.
Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali publicly suggested the team may refuse to participate.
He said the situation between Tehran and Washington could make travel to the United States unacceptable.
“Under no circumstances can we participate,” the minister said when discussing the possibility of competing in the tournament.
His comments marked the first clear signal from the Iranian government regarding the World Cup controversy.
Neither FIFA nor Iranian football authorities have yet confirmed whether the team will withdraw.
FIFA historically attempts to keep politics separate from international football competitions.
However, major geopolitical conflicts have previously forced sporting bodies to make difficult decisions.
International sports events have occasionally been disrupted by wars, diplomatic disputes or sanctions.
Iran’s situation represents a particularly sensitive case because the team qualified normally through sporting competition.
The team has already been placed into Group G of the tournament following the official draw.
Group G includes Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand as Iran’s scheduled opponents.
Two of Iran’s matches are expected to be played in Los Angeles.
Another group stage match is scheduled to take place in Seattle.
Both cities are among the major American venues selected for the World Cup.
If Iran ultimately withdraws, FIFA may need to reorganize the group or select a replacement team.
Such a decision could trigger complicated sporting and political debates.
Football analysts say removing Iran would significantly change the competitive balance of the group.
Iran is widely considered one of Asia’s strongest football teams.
The national team has regularly qualified for major international tournaments.
Their participation often carries enormous symbolic significance for Iranian fans.
International tournaments provide rare moments of global visibility for the country’s athletes.
For many supporters, football represents an opportunity to showcase national pride through sport.
FIFA officials continue to emphasize that football should unite rather than divide nations.
Infantino’s comments reflected that philosophy when discussing Iran’s qualification.
However, the evolving war has placed football administrators in a difficult position.
Balancing player safety with sporting fairness remains a complex challenge.
Trump’s remarks highlighted the political pressure surrounding the issue.
Although he did not announce a formal ban, his warning suggested concerns inside Washington.
Diplomatic tensions could affect travel arrangements, security planning and match organization.
Tournament organizers are continuing preparations across host cities in North America.
The 2026 competition is expected to be the largest World Cup ever staged.
Matches will take place across multiple venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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Millions of supporters are expected to travel internationally for the tournament.
Organizers hope the event will showcase football’s growing popularity in North America.
Any uncertainty about participating teams could complicate logistical planning.
For now, Iran remains officially qualified for the competition.
Whether the team ultimately plays may depend on political developments in the months ahead.
The controversy illustrates how global sporting events can become entangled with international conflicts.
As preparations continue, FIFA officials will likely face pressure to clarify Iran’s status.
The situation also underscores the fragile relationship between international sport and global politics.
For fans, players and organizers, the coming months could determine whether Iran appears at football’s biggest tournament.
