- Iran rejects Donald Trump’s remarks on 2026 World Cup participation
- Federation says no country can decide Iran’s eligibility
- Iran had already qualified for the tournament
- Matches scheduled to be played in the United States
The Iran Football Federation has strongly criticised comments by Donald Trump suggesting it may be inappropriate for the Iran national football team to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to security concerns.
Tensions surrounding Iran’s participation in the tournament have grown following the escalation of military strikes involving the United States and Israel beginning on February 28.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Despite the geopolitical crisis, Iran had already secured qualification for the expanded 48-team World Cup, but the conflict has raised questions about the team’s ability to compete, especially with several matches scheduled to take place in the United States.
Responding to the controversy, the Iranian federation issued a statement on Instagram insisting that no individual country has the authority to determine which teams participate in the global competition.
“The World Cup is a historic and international event, and its governing body is FIFA – not an individual or a country,” the statement read.
The federation also emphasised that the Iranian team earned its place in the tournament through strong performances during the qualification stage.
“The Iranian national team was among the first to qualify for this major tournament, thanks to its strength and the decisive victories achieved by the courageous sons of Iran.”
The statement also contained a pointed response to Trump’s comments, suggesting that the responsibility for safety lies with the host country.
“Certainly, no one can exclude the Iranian national team from the World Cup; the only country that could be excluded is the one that merely holds the title of host country without being able to ensure the safety of the teams participating in this global event.”
Trump had earlier expressed concerns about the team’s presence, writing on Truth Social that while the Iranian team would technically be welcome, their participation might not be appropriate due to security risks.
Iran’s World Cup Group
Iran have been drawn in Group G alongside:
• Belgium national football team
• Egypt national football team
• New Zealand national football team
Matches are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles and Seattle, while the team’s training base had been planned for Tucson.
The situation continues to evolve as global attention remains focused on the political tensions surrounding the tournament.
