Trump sends astonishing warning to Iran soccer team ahead of World Cup

Donald Trump has warned the Iran soccer team to stay away from the World Cup - for their 'own life and safety' - in a remarkable intervention by the White House.

Iran has qualified for this summer's soccer showpiece, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Uncertainty over Iran's presence has swelled since conflict broke out with the US and Israel and on Thursday, Trump spoke out about the issue on Truth Social.

'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. 

'Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.'

His comments come a day after Iran's sports minister seemingly confirmed the team would boycott the tournament after US and Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader and sparked a wave of retaliatory attacks.

Amid escalating conflict, the head of Iran's football federation, Mehdi Taj, recently stated it is 'unlikely that we can look forward to the cup.'

Then Iran sports minister Ahmad Donyamal said that there are 'no conditions under which we can participate' and there is 'no possibility' that they will feature at the tournament. 

'Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,' Ahmad Donyamal said in a television interview on Wednesday via RTE.

'In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed. Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way.'

When asked about Iran's participation at the World Cup by Politico last week, US President Trump replied: 'I really don't care'. 

The World Cup will be staged across the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, with Iran due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June, respectively, as well as Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. 

Back in December, FIFA president Gianni Infantino awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. He later claimed he had been given assurances from the president that the Iranian football team would be 'welcome' at the tournament. 

'This evening, I met with the President of the United States, Donald J Trump to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and the growing excitement as we are set to kick off in just 93 days,' Infantino said in a statement.

'We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

'During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.

'We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World.'

Iran secured a place in a fourth successive World Cup by finishing top of Group A in Asian qualifying. The team was slated to be based at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.