Iran’s national team has responded strongly to Donald Trump’s comments suggesting they shouldn’t attend the 2026 World Cup for their own safety.
“The World Cup is a historic and international event, and its organizer is FIFA—not any single country,” the team said in a statement.
They emphasized that they’ve qualified for the tournament through their victories, and no one can remove them.
The Iranian team is pushing back against Trump’s suggestion that they might face safety risks in the US, pointing out that the host country should ensure security for all participating teams.
Trump’s comments came after Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, stated that the team wouldn’t participate in the World Cup due to the current political tensions and security concerns.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had earlier met with Trump and said Iran was welcome to participate.
However, Iran’s sports minister reiterated that the team won’t attend, citing the killing of their supreme leader and ongoing conflicts with the US.
The situation puts FIFA in a tricky position, balancing sports diplomacy with geopolitical tensions.
If Iran withdraws, potential replacements could be Iraq or the United Arab Emirates.
