Ex-Japan Footballer Says Sponsor Hit Pause After He Supported Iran's FIFA World Cup Spot

Last Updated:March 14, 2026, 08:34 IST

Keisuke Honda's US sponsor paused an ad deal after he expressed support for Iran's participation in the FIFA World Cup amidst escalating Middle East conflict.

Former Japanese footballer Keisuke Honda has revealed that a US sponsor has paused an advertisement deal with him after he said that he wants Iran to participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Fighting across the Middle East continues to escalate after the United States and Israel carried out large-scale strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28.

Iran has responded with a wave of attacks on Israel and US-allied Gulf states, some of which have hit civilian sites and energy facilities in addition to military targets. Meanwhile, Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup has been shrouded in uncertainty.

“I know it’s a very sensitive thing, but I personally want them to participate in the World Cup ⚽️," Honda had tweeted on Thursday morning.

“It seems that an ad from a US company, which was likely to be finalised in time for the World Cup, has been put on hold due to this statement," Honda added on Friday morning.

The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on Saturday, February 28, targeting missile infrastructure, military sites and leadership positions in Tehran and elsewhere across the nation.

The war involving the United States and Israel against Iran has sparked global uncertainty, with the FIFA World Cup already feeling the fallout amidst existing political tensions in the Americas.

Iran’s sports minister said on Wednesday that the nation cannot take part in the FIFA World Cup after the United States killed its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Ali Khamenei was killed on the opening day of the United States-Israel war on Iran on Saturday, February 28, while all of Iran’s FIFA World Cup group games are all set to be held in US cities.

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