U.S. President Trump: Iran should skip World Cup ‘for their safety’

2026 FIFA World Cup host nation leader Donald Trump said Thursday that the Iran national football team would be “welcome” to participate in the tournament in the United States, while simultaneously warning that it might not be safe for them to attend following the escalating conflict between Washington, Israel and Tehran.

In a message posted on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the Iranian squad could take part in the global tournament but suggested that the team reconsider its plans because of the tense geopolitical situation.

“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup,” Trump wrote. “But I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The comments come as uncertainty grows around Iran’s participation in the expanded 48-team tournament, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

Iran had already qualified for the competition and is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in the United States. According to the tournament schedule, the team is set to face New Zealand national football team on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

They are then due to meet the Belgium national football team on June 21 at the same venue before travelling north to Seattle to play the Egypt national football team on June 26 in their final group match.

However, participation by the Iranian team has become uncertain after Iranian officials suggested the country could withdraw from the tournament in response to recent military strikes.

Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, told Iranian state television that the national team could not take part in the World Cup following the attacks carried out by the United States and Israel.

“Given that this corrupt government assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali said, according to Iranian media reports.

The comments refer to the killing of Iran’s longtime supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the opening day of strikes that began on Feb. 28. He has since been succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, marking a dramatic shift in the country’s political leadership during the ongoing conflict.

The situation places world football’s governing body, FIFA, in a delicate position just months before the start of the tournament. The World Cup is set to be the largest in the competition’s history, featuring 48 teams for the first time.

Trump’s latest remarks also appeared to differ slightly from what he told FIFA president Gianni Infantino earlier this week.

Infantino had met Trump at the White House on Tuesday and later said the US president assured him that Iran’s players and coaching staff would be able to travel to the United States to compete.

Infantino subsequently posted on social media that Trump confirmed Iran would be “welcome” at the tournament, a message that was also privately conveyed during their meeting.

A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private, confirmed that Trump had reassured FIFA about the ability of Iranian players and staff to participate despite the ongoing tensions.

But Trump’s message on Thursday introduced a more cautious tone, raising questions about security and whether the Iranian delegation could face risks while in the United States.

The White House did not immediately clarify what the president meant by warning about the team’s “life and safety,” including whether officials believe there could be threats against Iranian players or supporters amid the wider conflict.

Complicating matters further is the Trump administration’s travel restrictions. Since June, Iran has been included in a broader immigration crackdown that restricts entry into the United States for citizens of several countries.

However, the policy includes exemptions for athletes and coaches participating in major international sporting events. That means players and staff from the Iranian national team would still be allowed to enter the country for the World Cup.

For now, football authorities are continuing preparations under the assumption that Iran will take part as scheduled. Yet with the tournament approaching and geopolitical tensions still high, the status of one of Asia’s strongest teams remains uncertain.