‘Not Appropriate’ For Iran To Attend 2026 World Cup, Donald Trump Says

United States President Donald Trump has said Iran’s national football team may be “welcome” at the 2026 World Cup, but warned it would not be appropriate for them to attend because of security concerns.

The tournament, organised by FIFA, will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June.

Naija News reports that Donald Trump made the remarks on Thursday, March 12, amid rising tensions following military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran that killed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf states that host American military bases, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Against that backdrop, Trump questioned whether Iran should travel to the finals.

“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 posted on Truth Social on Thursday.

Naija News reports that the comments followed an earlier statement from Iran’s Sports and Youth Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, who suggested the team might withdraw from the competition altogether.

Speaking to IRIB Sports Network on Tuesday, Donyamali said: “Given that this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances do we have the appropriate conditions to participate in the World Cup.

“Our boys are not safe, and conditions for participation do not exist.”

Iran had been scheduled to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June, before facing Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

Earlier in the week, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Trump had indicated Iran would still be “welcome to compete” at the tournament.

If Iran eventually withdraws from what would have been its fourth straight World Cup appearance, FIFA regulations allow the governing body to select a replacement team. It remains unclear which nation could take that place.