Iran Likely To Play 2026 FIFA World Cup Despite Tensions

The men’s national football team of Iran is still planning to participate in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup scheduled to take place in North America.

Asian football officials confirmed on Monday that despite concerns about the security situation surrounding the team, the country would participate in the game.

Naija News reports that the tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Recall that United States President Donald Trump had earlier cautioned that the Iranian team’s “life and safety” could be at risk if they attended the global football event.

Trump made the remarks last Thursday in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

According to the US leader, although the Iranian team would be welcome to participate, the prevailing geopolitical tensions raised serious security concerns.

“The Iranian team is welcome, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Trump said.

The concerns follow the escalation of tensions after a war reportedly triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28, which has heightened regional instability and cast uncertainty over Iran’s participation in international events.

Despite the situation, officials of the Asian Football Confederation said there had been no official indication that the team would withdraw from the competition.

Speaking during a press conference at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, the confederation’s General Secretary, Windsor Paul John, said the governing body was closely monitoring developments but that Iran remained scheduled to compete.

“As far as we know, Iran is playing,” he said.

“We are monitoring whether they are playing or not, but at the moment they are. There is no official information that they are not playing.”

Windsor also emphasised that the AFC hoped Iran would take part in the tournament, describing the country as a “top team” in Asian football.

“So we hope that they will solve their issues… and be able to participate in the World Cup,” he added.

Meanwhile, developments involving members of Iran’s women’s national football delegation have added another layer of controversy.

The captain of the Iranian women’s team, which recently competed in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, reportedly withdrew her request for asylum on Sunday.

Earlier, seven members of Iran’s visiting football delegation had sought refuge in Australia after being labelled “traitors” at home for refusing to sing the national anthem during the tournament.

Following the captain’s decision to reverse her asylum request, reports indicated that only two members of the group now intend to remain in Australia.

A former Iranian footballer and a Persian-language television channel based outside Iran alleged that the players had been pressured to withdraw their asylum requests through threats directed at their families back home.

However, Iranian authorities have denied the allegations and instead accused Australia of pressuring the players to remain in the country.

According to reports, the players planning to return to Iran were staying at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur while awaiting onward travel arrangements.

When asked about the immediate future of the women’s team members, Windsor said the AFC was waiting for the players to communicate their travel plans.

“It’s their decision and we will support that,” he said, adding that the confederation would respect whatever choice the players ultimately make regarding their departure.