Donald Trump: The US President says Iran is “welcome” to the 2026 World Cup but is not “appropriate”

US President Donald Trump said the Iranian men’s soccer team was “welcome” to the 2026 World Cup, but it was not “appropriate” for them to be there “for their lives and safety”.

Trump’s statements come after the Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, said that his country is not in a position to participate in the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico as of June 11.

Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, respectively, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

But their participation has been in doubt since the United States and Israel launched raids on the country, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and four Arab Gulf states that host US military bases: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

“The Iranian national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I do not think it is appropriate for them to be there, for their lives and safety,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.

Earlier this week, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Trump had told him that Iran was “welcome to compete” in this summer’s finals.

But in an interview with IRIB Sports Network on Tuesday, Dunyamali said: “Given that this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we do not have the right conditions to participate in the World Cup under any circumstances.

“Our children are not safe, and the conditions for participation are not met.”

If Iran withdraws from the World Cup for the fourth time in a row, FIFA regulations give the governing body discretion to choose a replacement, but it is unclear who that will be.