Iran Defies Trump, Vows Participation In FIFA World Cup

Iran has stated firmly that no nation has the authority to prevent it from participating in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, pushing back against remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump who suggested the team’s “life and safety” might be at risk in the United States.

In a post shared on social media on Thursday, the Iran national football team stressed that the global tournament is regulated by FIFA and not controlled by any single country.

“The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA, not any individual or country,” the team stated.

Iran further argued that if the United States cannot ensure the safety of participating teams, it should not be hosting the competition.

“Certainly no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup; the only country that can 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 statement added.

Earlier, Trump had posted on his Truth Social platform that while Iran’s team would be allowed to attend the tournament, he believed their participation might not be suitable due to safety concerns.

“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,” he wrote.

His comments came just two days after he reportedly assured Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, that Iranian players would be welcomed at the competition.

The remarks follow heightened tensions in the Middle East after U.S-Israeli strikes on February 28, which have sparked debate about Iran’s involvement in the tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Despite the controversy, Trump later sought to reassure supporters that the event would be safe for both teams and fans.

“The United States of America looks very much forward to hosting the FIFA World Cup,” he wrote, adding that ticket sales were “through the roof.”