A growing political row between Iran, the USA, and Israel continues to cast a shadow over the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Now, Iran’s national football team responded directly to Donald Trump’s warning about their participation.
The controversy began after Trump suggested that Iran should avoid travelling to the tournament for security reasons.
The World Cup, which the United States will co-host alongside Canada and Mexico, is now facing fresh uncertainty less than 100 days before the opening match.
Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated following reports of a joint missile strike carried out by the US and Israel two weeks ago.
The attack reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and triggered a wider conflict in the region.
In response to the situation, Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth Ahmad Donyamali stated earlier this week that the country may not be able to take part in the tournament.
He said Iran could not participate in the competition under the current conditions. However, the debate intensified after Donald Trump addressed the issue publicly on his Truth Social platform.
“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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
The statement drew a swift reaction from Iran’s national team. In an official response, the squad insisted that their place in the tournament cannot be taken away.
They even suggested that responsibility lies with the host nation to guarantee safety. The statement read (via The Athletic):
“The World Cup is a historic and international event, and its organiser is FIFA, not any single country.
“The Iranian national team also qualified for this event with authority and through consecutive victories, becoming one of the first teams to reach this great tournament.
“Certainly, no one can remove the Iranian national team from the World Cup.
“Rather, the country that should be removed is the one that merely carries the title of ‘host’ but does not have the ability to ensure security for the teams participating in this event.”
Iran secured qualification after an impressive campaign, topping both of their qualifying groups and losing only one of their 16 matches.
With the World Cup fast approaching, FIFA may soon face a difficult decision if the political tensions continue to escalate.
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