US Edition
Trump Says Iranian World Cup Team Should Skip the Games for 'Their Own Life and Safety'
- On Thursday, Trump warned Iran's football team their 'life and safety' would be at risk if they attended the World Cup.
- The war triggered by US‑Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026, has thrown Iran's potential World Cup participation into doubt after retaliatory actions across the Middle East raised security concerns.
- Earlier this week, Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, said he discussed the 'current situation in Iran' with Trump during a White House meeting; Trump later reiterated Iran's welcome.
- On Wednesday, Iran's sports minister Ahmad Donyamali appeared to rule out participation, increasing uncertainty as Iran is scheduled to play three group games in the US starting 15 June.
- Following asylum appeals, Australia later agreed to grant refuge to the five players who decided to stay, amid fears they could face retaliation at home for not singing the national anthem, as Trump urged asylum for visiting Iranian women footballers.
233 Articles
233 Articles
He’s a global bully, Trump makes another outrageous remark. Iran, don’t come to the World Cup. OSEN = Reporter Seo Jeong-hwan. He is a global bully. U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks are shaking the international soccer world. President Trump is dragging war and political conflicts into the sports stage, and 2026
A great storm arose in the football community after the statement of the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, that "Iranians are welcome at the World Cup, but it is not appropriate for them to participate for their own safety."
Trump: Iran should skip World Cup
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he did not think it would be "appropriate" for the Iranian soccer team to attend this year's World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, and cited safety concerns as a reason on Thursday, while…
The anger about Iran's participation in the World Cup goes into the next round. US President Donald Trump had previously proposed that Iran should renounce the World Cup.
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