Iran national soccer team fires back after Donald Trump warns FIFA World Cup 2026 participation could risk their safety

Tension around the FIFA World Cup 2026 grew this week after Donald Trump suggested that the Iran national soccer team should not take part in the tournament “for their own life and safety.” The comment came after rising conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Iran’s national team quickly answered back. In a strong statement shared on Instagram, the team said that no single country or political leader can decide who plays in the World Cup. According to the players, the tournament is controlled only by FIFA, the global body that runs world football. Iran already earned its place in the competition after finishing first in Group A during Asian qualifying. The tournament will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

Iran was scheduled to play group matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in different American cities.

Donald Trump warning sparks Iran national team response as FIFA World Cup 2026 participation debate grows

The situation started when Donald Trump posted a message on Truth Social on Thursday. In his post, he wrote that the Iran national soccer team is technically welcome at the World Cup but suggested it might be unsafe for them to attend.“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 in the message.

Soon after, Iran’s national team pushed back. In their statement, the players said that decisions about the tournament cannot be made by any one country.“The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA, not any individual or country,” the team wrote on Instagram.The players also pointed out that Iran qualified through strong performances on the field. The team said its place was earned through “a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran.”However, not everyone in Iran’s sports leadership has taken the same position. One day earlier, Ahmad Donyamal suggested the country might boycott the event after the recent conflict.Speaking in a television interview reported by RTÉ, Ahmad Donyamal said there were “no conditions under which we can participate.”He made the comment after Mehdi Taj had already warned that the country might struggle to look forward to the tournament given the tense situation.Despite those comments, Iran’s football team made it clear that they still believe their place in the tournament cannot simply be removed.Meanwhile, Gianni Infantino had earlier said that the Iranian team would be welcome. After meeting Donald Trump during preparations for the tournament, Gianni Infantino said the World Cup should bring people together.Iran had been scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The team was also expected to stay at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona during the event.