Donald Trump Says Iran Is Welcome at 2026 World Cup but Urges Team to Skip for “Life and Safety”

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than 100 days from kickoff, Iran’s place in the tournament is suddenly being discussed like it’s a security briefing instead of a group-stage fixture list.

President Donald Trump wrote Thursday that Iran’s national soccer team is “welcome” to participate in the World Cup in the United States, but added that he does not believe it is appropriate for the team to attend “for their own life and safety.”

Trump posted on Truth Social: “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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

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Iran has already qualified for the 2026 tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran was drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, and its current schedule has it slated to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before closing group play against Egypt in Seattle.

The statement also landed against a rapidly changing backdrop. The day before Trump’s post, Iran’s sports minister said the country could not participate in the World Cup following airstrikes against Iran by the United States and Israel. In remarks carried by Iranian state media, Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said: “Given that this corrupt government assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup.”

Those remarks referenced Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of attacks, according to the same reporting, and has since been succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.

Trump’s comments Thursday also marked a tonal shift from earlier statements attributed to him. Earlier this month, he told Politico, “I really don’t care” when asked whether Iran would participate. And just days before Thursday’s post, FIFA president Gianni Infantino publicly said Trump had assured him Iran would be “welcome” to compete, following a meeting between the two men.

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The safety angle has become central to the public messaging from both sides. Trump’s Thursday post framed the concern around the Iranian team’s protection while in the U.S. Reuters also reported that Iran’s sports minister indicated participation may not be feasible, raising the possibility of Iran withdrawing from the tournament. The Associated Press similarly reported that Trump questioned whether it would be “appropriate” for Iran to attend amid the conflict, even while reiterating the team would be welcome.

There are also logistical and legal layers that could matter if the conversation moves from statements to decisions. The Associated Press noted that a U.S. travel ban affecting Iran has exemptions for athletes and coaches, meaning Iranian players would be legally able to participate in matches hosted in the United States if Iran’s federation and FIFA proceed with participation. FIFA has not publicly announced a change to Iran’s status in the tournament as of Thursday, and Reuters reported FIFA declined to comment on the developing situation.

The immediate question now is whether Iran’s federation and government treat Donyamali’s comments as a definitive withdrawal, whether FIFA seeks clarification, or whether the situation remains unresolved heading toward June. For tournament organizers, it’s an unusual problem with a simple on-paper answer (a qualified team plays its schedule) and a complicated real-world question (whether it can or will). For Team Iran, it’s a scenario where the next update may come from a sports authority, a government official, or FIFA — and the bracket doesn’t care which one speaks first.

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