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Iran Soccer Team Fires Back After President’s World Cup Warning

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FIFA World Cup
Photo Credit: "Mario Götze GOL - The 2014 FIFA World Cup Final | 140713-9112-jikatu" by jikatu is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

Iran’s national soccer team clapped back after President Donald Trump warned the squad to reconsider appearing at the upcoming World Cup for its “own life and safety.”

The dispute erupted days after Trump addressed the growing geopolitical crisis between the United States and Iran while discussing the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Iran already secured qualification for the tournament and is scheduled to compete in group matches across the United States this summer.

Trump weighed in on the situation Thursday in a Truth Social post that questioned whether the Iranian team should travel to the United States amid the escalating conflict.

“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup,” Trump wrote in the message. “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.”

The comment followed a week of rising tensions after joint U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iran, an operation that resulted in the death of the country’s supreme leader.

Iran later launched retaliatory attacks against U.S.-allied nations in the Gulf region, deepening fears of a broader regional conflict.

Trump had already signaled he was not overly concerned about Iran’s role in the tournament during remarks last week.

“I really don’t care” if Iran participates, the president said, adding that Iran is “a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”

Iran’s national team responded with a lengthy statement posted to Instagram rejecting the idea that a single country or leader could influence its participation in the tournament.

“The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA,” the statement read, adding that the competition is not controlled by “any individual or country.”

Team officials also highlighted the legitimacy of their qualification.

“Iran’s national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament,” the statement continued.

The team insisted that no outside power has authority to remove them from the competition.

“Certainly, no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup,” the statement said.

The post also included a pointed warning directed at the host nation.

“The only country that could be excluded is one that merely carries the title of ‘host’ yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event.”

Despite the fiery response, uncertainty remains about whether Iran will ultimately take part in the tournament.

The team’s statement came just one day after Iran’s sports minister appeared to suggest the country could boycott the event altogether.

Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamal told state television there were currently “no conditions under which we can participate.”

The remarks followed comments from Iranian football federation head Mehdi Taj, who indicated it was “unlikely” the team would travel to the competition.

Donyamal blamed the escalating war with the United States and Israel.

“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” the minister said during the interview.

He also pointed to the toll the conflict has taken on the country.

“In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months,” Donyamal continued, saying thousands of Iranian citizens had been killed.

“Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way.”

The conflicting statements have left the global soccer community uncertain about Iran’s plans just months before the tournament begins.

Iran is currently scheduled to open group play against New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, California.

The team is also slated to face Belgium on June 21 before concluding the group stage against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

The tournament will run from June 11 through July 19 across host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino attempted to calm concerns earlier this week after meeting with Trump at the White House.

Infantino said the president reaffirmed that Iran’s national team would be allowed to compete.

“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said in a statement.

The FIFA chief also emphasized the global significance of the event.

“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever,” Infantino said. “Football Unites the World.”

The conflict has also complicated the future of Iran’s women’s national team.

Several members of the squad were visiting Australia for a tournament when fighting between Iran and the United States intensified.

Australian officials confirmed this week that multiple Iranian players requested asylum rather than return home.

The issue drew international attention after some of the players refused to sing Iran’s national anthem before a match against South Korea on March 2.

Trump later urged Australian leaders to protect the athletes. “Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran,” Trump wrote in another Truth Social message. “Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister.”

He encouraged Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to grant the players asylum. “Give ASYLUM,” Trump wrote. “The U.S. will take them if you won’t.”

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke later confirmed that five Iranian players accepted asylum offers.

The women were moved from their hotel in Gold Coast to a secure location by federal police before beginning the process of applying for humanitarian visas.

“These women are tremendously popular in Australia,” Burke said while announcing the decision. “But we realize they are in a terribly difficult situation.”

Burke said the players would receive housing, health services and other support while their immigration status is processed.

Officials also revealed that another player and a staff member later chose to remain in Australia.

Authorities attempted to offer asylum to other team members before they boarded a flight back to Iran.

Many declined the offer because they feared retaliation against relatives still living in Iran.

“Some feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families,” Trump said while discussing the situation online.

The president later said he spoke directly with Albanese about the situation.

“The Prime Minister is doing a very good job having to do with this rather delicate situation,” Trump wrote.

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