United States President Donald Trump has warned that players from the Iran national football team could face risks to their “life and safety” if they participate in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Trump made the comments on Thursday on his Truth Social platform as the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel raises uncertainty over the country’s participation in the tournament.
“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 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Trump’s statement came just two days after he told Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, that Iranian players would still be welcome to compete despite the escalating war in the Middle East.
Infantino said earlier this week that he discussed Iran’s participation in the tournament during a meeting with Trump at the White House.
“President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said after the meeting.
His remarks marked one of the first acknowledgements by the global football body of how the ongoing conflict could affect international sporting events.
The war began after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering a wider conflict across the Middle East and raising concerns about travel, security and diplomatic tensions ahead of the World Cup.
The tournament, scheduled for later this year across North America, is expected to be the largest in the competition’s history.
Trump also recently weighed in on a separate issue involving members of Iran women’s national football team who were competing in Australia.
The players reportedly feared retaliation if they returned home after refusing to sing the national anthem before an AFC Women’s Asian Cup match.
Authorities in Australia later granted asylum to five players who chose to remain in the country.
The developments highlight how the ongoing conflict and political tensions surrounding Iran are increasingly spilling into international sport and diplomacy.
