Frank Rondel
Iran has firmly stated that no entity has the authority to bar it from participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, following warnings from former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the safety of Iranian players on American soil, reports customreceipt.com via aljazeera. The announcement comes after escalating tensions in the Middle East, including U.S.-Israeli strikes earlier this year, which have raised questions about Iran’s ability to safely attend the tournament.
The Iranian Football Federation posted a response on social media Thursday, insisting that the U.S. should not co-host the World Cup if it cannot ensure the security of all participating teams. The statement emphasized that FIFA, as the global governing body of football, holds ultimate authority over the tournament, not individual countries or leaders.
“The World Cup is a historic international competition governed solely by FIFA. Iran’s national team, strengthened by a series of decisive victories by the nation’s players, was among the first to qualify for this prestigious event,” the federation wrote. “No one can exclude Iran from participating. Any country that fails to guarantee the safety of competing teams should not serve as host.”
Former President Trump’s comments came just days after he conveyed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino that Iranian athletes would be welcome at the event, despite ongoing regional conflicts. On his Truth Social account, Trump stated, “The Iran National Football 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 later posted again to assure fans and players that the tournament would be secure, adding that ticket sales were “through the roof.”
The controversy follows remarks by Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali, who told state television that the team would withdraw from the World Cup if the U.S. had been involved in the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Considering that this corrupt regime [the U.S.] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali said on Wednesday.
The unfolding exchange has drawn international attention, highlighting both geopolitical tensions and the challenges of ensuring player safety at a global sporting event that is just months away.
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