I don’t care if Iran plays at 2026 World Cup, says Trump

2026-03-04 - 11:57

United States President Donald Trump has said he is unconcerned about whether Iran’s national football team participates in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, amid growing uncertainty over the country’s involvement. “I really don’t care,” Trump said in an interview with Politico on Tuesday when asked about Iran’s possible participation. “I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes,” he added. Iran was the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. However, its absence from a FIFA planning meeting for participating nations held this week in Atlanta has intensified speculation about whether Tehran will send a team to the United States, one of the tournament’s host nations. The uncertainty comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East, including U.S. and Israeli airstrikes inside Iran and retaliatory strikes by Tehran. The conflict has raised concerns over whether Iranian officials and supporters would be granted entry into the U.S. if the team participates. FIFA has declined to comment on the issue. The tournament will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, but the possibility of Iranian players, and potentially government-linked officials, traveling to the U.S. has emerged as a sensitive geopolitical flashpoint. Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. A potential knockout-stage clash between the United States and Iran could take place on July 3 in Dallas if both teams finish second in their respective groups. Following the recent strikes, Iran’s football federation president, Mehdi Taj, suggested the country may reconsider its participation. “What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Taj told Iranian sports outlet Varzesh3. Questions over Iran’s involvement had surfaced even before the conflict escalated. Iran is among the countries affected by Trump’s most restrictive travel ban, enacted by executive order last June. Although the order provides exemptions for World Cup teams and essential support staff, visa decisions for other individuals, including government officials and corporate executives, remain subject to case-by-case review by the U.S. State Department. In December, the State Department declined to approve all visa applications for Iranian representatives seeking to attend the World Cup draw in Washington. Iran subsequently threatened to boycott the ceremony, prompting FIFA to intervene and mediate the dispute, according to reports.