Trump says Iran team welcome at World Cup, but doesn’t believe it’s appropriate

President Trump said Iran’s national soccer team is welcome to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but said he does not believe it would be appropriate for the team to attend because of safety concerns.

“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 said in a social media post on Thursday.

The post came a day after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Trump had made clear that Iran would be allowed to take part in the tournament in the United States.

Trump’s post came after Iran’s sports minister said that the country could not take part following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In an interview with IRIB Sports Network, Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali said Iran did not have the conditions to participate. He said the team was not safe and that participation was not possible under the current circumstances.

Iran are due to open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, before facing Belgium on June 21, also in Los Angeles, and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

If Iran withdraws from the tournament, the replacement would likely come from the Asian Football Confederation, with Iraq the leading possibility unless it secures qualification in the upcoming playoffs, in which case the United Arab Emirates could move into place, according to ESPN.