United States President Donald Trump has warned that Iran’s national football team could face serious safety risks if they participate in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Trump made the remark on Thursday, saying the Iranian team would be welcome at the tournament but suggesting that their safety could not be guaranteed amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
“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 wrote on his Truth Social platform.
His statement comes only two days after he held discussions with Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, at the White House, where the issue of Iran’s participation in the tournament was reportedly raised.
According to Infantino, the meeting focused partly on the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and its possible implications for international sporting events.
“President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said following the meeting earlier this week.
However, Trump’s latest comments appear to cast doubt on whether Iran’s participation would be advisable given the current security climate.
The geopolitical tension intensified after US–Israeli strikes on Iran (February 2026) reportedly triggered a broader conflict in the region. The escalation has raised concerns about how the situation could affect international travel, diplomatic relations and sporting engagements involving Iranian nationals.
Meanwhile, Infantino recently acknowledged the Middle East conflict publicly for the first time while addressing reporters. The FIFA president had also drawn attention in December when he announced the creation of a FIFA peace prize and awarded its inaugural honour to Trump.
In a related development, Trump also commented this week on the situation involving Iranian women footballers who were in Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The players reportedly feared possible retaliation upon returning to Iran after refusing to sing the national anthem before a match.
Australian authorities later granted asylum to five of the players who chose to remain in the country.
The evolving political situation has now raised broader questions about Iran’s participation in major international sporting competitions in the months ahead.
