Published on 13 March 2026
Quick score
Iran has fired back at President Donald Trump after he suggested the national team might face risks if they travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
What Trump said
On his social platform, Mr Trump said the Iran national team was welcome but added that he did not believe it was appropriate for them to attend "for their own life and safety." He later posted that the United States is looking forward to hosting the tournament and that "Ticket sales are 'through the roof!'"
How Iran replied
The Iranian team responded on social media by reminding everyone that the World Cup is governed by FIFA, not any single person or country. The statement highlighted Iran's qualification for the tournament, praising the team's recent wins, and insisted that no one can exclude Iran from the event.
The response added that, if a host country cannot guarantee the safety of participating teams, that host should not be considered fit to run the event.
Context and consequences
- The comments come amid a broader regional crisis after US and Israeli strikes on 28 February. That conflict has cast doubt over Iran's participation at this summer's tournament.
- Separately, Iran's sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, told state television the team would not take part after the United States killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the official remarks.
- Two days before his warning about safety, Mr Trump told FIFA chief Gianni Infantino that Iranian players would be welcome to compete despite the Middle East war.
What to watch next
The situation is unresolved. FIFA remains the governing authority for World Cup participation, and any final decision about teams attending will involve multiple organizations and diplomatic conversations. For now, the public exchange between Tehran and Washington continues on social media and in official statements.
