Iran football team has hit out at the United States of America (USA) President Donald Trump after the politician issued a veiled threat to the Asian team if they participated in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the North American country. Iran are scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

But the ongoing war between Iran and the US has changed the dynamics. Amid the geopolitical tension, US President Trump said on Thursday that while the Iranian soccer ‌team was welcome to participate in the FIFA World Cup, it was not appropriate that they be there “for their own life and safety”.

“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 said on ​Truth Social.

Iran lash out at Trump’s ‘safety’ warning for 2026 World Cup

Hitting out at Trump for trying to threaten its football team, the Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) said late on Thursday that the United States must be stripped of hosting rights for the FIFA World Cup as it could not guarantee the safety of players.

“The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA — not any individual or country,” the Iranian Football Association said in an Instagram Story.

“Iran’s national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament. Certainly, no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup; the only country that could be excluded is on that merely carries the title of “host” yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event.”

FIFA stays mum as Trump threatens Iran

Trump later clarified that any threat to Iranian players at the FIFA World Cup would not come from the ‌United ⁠States.

“It will be the Greatest and Safest Sporting Event in American History,” he said in a latest Truth Social post. “All Players, Officials, and Fans will be treated like the “STARS” that they are!”

It has to be noted that Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali has already officially said that the country
would not take part in the World Cup amid its ongoing war with the US.

Iran’s withdrawal from the World Cup is going to be a first in modern-day football, but governing body FIFA has not clarified who will replace Iran, nor has it rebuked Trump for his recent comments.

Iran’s flag is displayed on a screen during the draw for the 2026 FIFA Football World Cup. File
| Photo Credit: AFP

Iran is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 before finishing group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 has become uncertain after the United States and Israel launched an attack in the West Asian country, killing its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran are part of Group G in the FIFA World Cup along with New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.

Iran’s group stage matches are scheduled in American cities of Los Angeles and Seattle from 16 June, but the recent attacks on the country by the USA have put their participation in doubt.

No Iran in FIFA World Cup 2026?

The president of Iran’s football federation has declared that the national team most likely won’t take part in the football World Cup.

“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj told sports portal Varzesh3.

The US-Israeli strikes on Iran continued for a second day on Sunday after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threw the future of the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and raised the risk of regional instability.

The US is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

Fans from Iran were already banned from entering the US in the first iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.

FIFA is yet to react to the uncertainty over Iran’s participation in the World Cup.

With AP inputs