March 13, (THEWILL) — United States President Donald Trump has cautioned Iran’s national football team against attending the 2026 World Cup, posting on his Truth Social platform that it would not be “appropriate” for them to participate “for their own life and safety.”
The remarks came one day after Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, told state television that the national side could not join the tournament under any circumstances, pointing to the killing of the country’s leader by what he called a “corrupt regime” in explaining the position.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had, shortly before Donyamali’s statement, published remarks indicating that Trump himself had confirmed the Iranian team was welcome to compete.
Trump’s subsequent post on Truth Social appeared to contradict that earlier position.
No qualified nation has withdrawn from the men’s World Cup in the modern era. France and India were the last to do so, in 1950, citing the financial burden of travelling by sea to Brazil.
Should Iran formalise a withdrawal, Iraq is considered the most probable replacement, holding the highest ranking among Asian nations that did not qualify for the tournament.
The United Arab Emirates has also been identified as a potential beneficiary of Iran’s absence.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
