Former United States President Donald Trump has warned the Iran national football team against attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup, suggesting it may be safer for the team to stay away from the tournament amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
The global football tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico between June 11 and July 19.
Iran has already secured qualification for the competition, but uncertainty surrounding the team’s participation has intensified following the recent escalation of conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Trump raises safety concerns
Addressing the situation on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday, Trump expressed concern about Iran’s presence at 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,” he wrote.
The remarks have added a new dimension to ongoing discussions about whether Iran will ultimately take part in the tournament.
Iran considering possible boycott
Reports indicate that officials within Iran’s football leadership are reconsidering the country’s participation in the competition.
Mehdi Taj, head of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, recently acknowledged that Iran’s presence at the World Cup is uncertain.
According to him, current political conditions make participation increasingly difficult.
“It is unlikely that we can look forward to the cup,” Taj reportedly stated.
Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamal, has also indicated that the country may withdraw entirely from the tournament.
In a television interview, he suggested that Iran’s government may not support participation under the current circumstances.
“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” he said.
Escalating geopolitical tensions
The uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation comes after reports of military strikes involving the United States and Israel that allegedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, triggering retaliatory attacks and further escalating tensions in the region.
Iranian officials have argued that the country has faced significant casualties in recent conflicts, making international sporting participation difficult at this time.
Observers say the situation highlights how geopolitical conflicts can affect international sporting events, especially global competitions like the FIFA World Cup.
World Cup schedule
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams, making it the largest competition in the event’s history.
Iran had initially been scheduled to face the New Zealand national football team and the Belgium national football team in Los Angeles on June 15 and June 21 respectively, before playing the Egypt national football team in Seattle on June 26.
However, with tensions continuing to rise and Iranian authorities reconsidering their involvement, the final decision regarding the country’s participation in the tournament remains uncertain.
