Will Iran Partake in the World Cup?: What we know so far

Controversy has been brewing ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, after war broke out in the Middle East.

Iran’s participation in the tournament has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched strikes on the country this month, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and four Gulf Arab countries that host US military bases—Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Iran is scheduled to play three matches in the US if they qualify through the play-offs.

Iranian national team fires back at Donald Trump over World Cup comment

This piece breaks down what has transpired between FIFA, US President Donald Trump, and Iranian football officials regarding the nation’s fate in the tournament.

Infantino on Trump Welcoming Iran

Posting on Instagram, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he met with Trump to discuss preparations for the tournament, which begins on June 11, 2026.

Infantino stated that the US President assured him that the Iranian team would be welcomed, emphasising that the World Cup seeks to bring peace and unity across the globe.

“We spoke about the current situation in Iran. During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States. We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the president of the United States for his support. It shows once again that football unites the world,” Infantino wrote.

Iran’s Sports Minister on Possible Boycott

Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Doyanmali, stated that it would not be prudent for the country to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid the ongoing war.

According to him, the missile attacks by the United States and Israel, which claimed the life of Iran’s Supreme Leader and relatives, complicate the nation’s involvement in the tournament.

“Given that this corrupt government has murdered our leader, there are no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup. Two wars have been imposed on us in eight or nine months, and several thousand of our citizens have been killed. Therefore, we have no chance of participating in this way,” he said, as reported by Swedish outlet Expressen.

Trump Urges Iran to Boycott the World Cup

In a surprising turn of events, Trump posted on social media urging Iran not to partake in the tournament due to insecurity.

The US President noted that, given the current war situation, their safety could not be guaranteed.

“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,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Iran National Team Replies to Trump

The Iranian national football team rejected Trump’s comments regarding their participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

In a statement, the team emphasised that the World Cup is a global football tournament organized by FIFA, not controlled by any single nation.

“The World Cup is a historic and international event, and its organizer is FIFA, not a single country. The Iranian national team qualified for this event with authority and through consecutive victories, becoming one of the first teams to reach this great tournament. Certainly, no one can remove the Iranian national team from the World Cup,” the statement read.

Amidst the controversy, FIFA will have to engage both Iran and the US to determine the nation’s fate in the tournament as the war in the Middle East continues.

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