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Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup remained in doubt this week after the country’s sports minister reportedly threatened to withdraw the men’s soccer team from the tournament to be held primarily in the United States this summer.
Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali reportedly told state television this week that it is “not possible” for the country to participate in the long-awaited tournament after the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed amid joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran, which began on February 28.
President Donald Trump has previously spoken about Iran’s status for the World Cup, but suggested Thursday that while the men’s team is “welcome” to compete in the United States after qualifying, it might not be “appropriate.”
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A screenshot of a video posted to US President Donald Trump’s Truth Social account shows Donald Trump making remarks about combat operations in Iran on February 28, 2026 in Palm Beach, Florida. (US President Trump via Truth Social/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Iran’s national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t think it’s appropriate for them to be there, for their own lives and safety,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Thursday.
IRAN’S FOOTBALL FEDERATION GIVES DURING PROSPECTS FOR WORLD CUP AFTER US-ASSISTED ATTACKS in the country
Iran is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15. They are also scheduled to face Belgium on June 21 before finishing group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The United States will host the tournament along with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Last week, Trump said, “I really don’t care” if Iran participates in the 48-nation tournament.
On Tuesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said President Donald Trump “reiterated” to him that Iran’s men’s national soccer team would be “welcome to compete” in this summer’s World Cup.
Iran’s players pose for a team photo before the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Zone Qualifying Group A football match between Iran and North Korea at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran on June 10, 2025. (ATTA KENARE/AFP)
Infantino shared the details of his conversation with the president in a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday. “This afternoon I met with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup and the growing excitement as it begins in just 93 days.”
Infantino also acknowledged that Iran has met all the requirements to qualify for the tournament.
“We also discussed the current situation in Iran and the team’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” he said. “During those conversations, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”
Iran fans applaud before the AFC Asian Qualifiers Group A third round match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Qatar and Iran at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar on June 5, 2025. (Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto)
FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Pak Gazette Digital.
The geopolitical crisis has also created uncertainty for the Iranian women’s national football team.
Earlier this week, Australia granted asylum to five members of the women’s team who were visiting the country for a tournament when the war with Iran began, a government minister confirmed.
The team generated speculation and news coverage in Australia when the players did not sing the Iranian anthem before their match against South Korea on March 2.
