By Chalien Dantes

US President Donald Trump has said Iran’s men’s football team is welcome at the 2026 World Cup, but suggested it may not be safe for their own lives to attend, given current events.

 His remarks follow Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, stating that the country may not be in a position to participate in the tournament, which runs from June 11th across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. However, their participation has been cast into doubt after US and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting Iran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and four Gulf states hosting US military bases, such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

If Iran withdraws from the tournament, which would have been its fourth consecutive World Cup, FIFA has the discretion to select a replacement, though it remains unclear which nation could step in. The situation adds an unusual layer of tension to the build-up of the World Cup in North America.