Trump says Iran’s World Cup participation may not be ‘appropriate,’ while adding men’s team is still ‘welcome’

Iran’s information successful the 2026 FIFA World Cup remained successful uncertainty this week aft the country's sports curate reportedly threatened to propulsion the men’s shot squad from the tourney mostly taking spot successful the United States this summer. 

Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali reportedly told authorities tv this week that it's "not possible" for the state to instrumentality portion successful the highly-anticipated tourney aft the country's ultimate leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed amid the U.S. and Israeli associated subject operations against Iran, which began connected Feb. 28. 

President Donald Trump has spoken astir Iran's presumption for the World Cup previously, but suggested Thursday that portion the men's squad is "welcome" to vie successful the U.S. aft qualifying, it mightiness not beryllium "appropriate." 

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A surface drawback from a video released connected U.S. President Donald Trump’s Truth Social relationship shows Donald Trump making statements regarding combat operations connected Iran connected Feb. 28, 2026 successful Palm Beach, Florida. (US President Trump Via Truth Social/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"The Iran National Soccer Team is invited to The World Cup, but I truly don’t judge it is due that they beryllium there, for their ain beingness and safety," Trump wrote successful a station to Truth Social station connected Thursday.

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Iran is slated to play successful Inglewood, California, against New Zealand connected June 15. It is besides scheduled to look Belgium connected June 21 earlier finishing radical play against Egypt successful Seattle connected June 26. The U.S. is hosting the tourney with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

Last week, Trump said "I truly don’t care" if Iran takes portion successful the 48-nation tournament.

On Tuesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said President Donald Trump "reiterated" to him that Iran’s men’s nationalist shot squad would beryllium "welcome to compete" astatine this summer's World Cup.

Iran's players airs for a squad representation up of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia portion qualifiers radical A shot lucifer betwixt Iran and North Korea astatine the Azadi Sports Complex successful Tehran connected June 10, 2025. (ATTA KENARE/AFP)

Infantino shared the details of his speech with the president successful a lengthy station connected Instagram connected Tuesday. "This evening, I met with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump to sermon the presumption of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and the increasing excitement arsenic we are acceptable to footwear disconnected successful conscionable 93 days."

Infantino besides acknowledged that Iran has met each requirements to suffice for the tournament.

"We besides discussed the existent concern successful Iran and the team’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup," helium said. "During those talks, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian squad is invited to vie successful the tourney successful the United States."

Iran fans cheer up of the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC Asian Qualifiers Group A 3rd circular lucifer betwixt Qatar and Iran astatine Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium successful Doha, Qatar, connected June 5, 2025. (Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto)

FIFA did not instantly respond to a petition for remark from Fox News Digital.

The geopolitical situation has besides formed uncertainty implicit the Iranian women's nationalist shot team.

Earlier this week, Australia granted asylum to 5 members of the women's squad who were visiting the state for a tourney erstwhile the Iran warfare began, a authorities curate confirmed.

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The squad drew speculation and quality sum successful Australia erstwhile players didn’t sing the Iranian anthem earlier their lucifer against South Korea connected March 2.

Fox News' Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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