Washington D.C., USA – United States President Donald Trump has advised the Iran national football team not to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite saying the team would still be allowed to compete in the tournament hosted by the United States.
Okay News reports that Trump made the remark on Thursday in a post on the social media platform Truth Social, stating that although Iran would be welcome at the tournament, he believes it may not be appropriate for the team to attend because of security concerns.
The comments come amid heightened tensions following airstrikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. Iranian authorities have also indicated that the country may withdraw from the competition.
Iran had been drawn in a group with Belgium national football team, Egypt national football team and New Zealand national football team, with matches scheduled to be played in cities including Los Angeles and Seattle.
Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had earlier indicated that the U.S. government assured football authorities that Iran would be permitted to participate in the global tournament.
