Khaberni - US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the Iranian team should not participate in next summer's World Cup in North America, just days after he told the FIFA president that the Iranians would be "welcome" despite the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Through his platform Truth Social, Trump said "The Iranian football team is welcome at the World Cup, but I really don't think it's appropriate for them to be there, considering their lives and safety."
On his part, Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donya Mali, said on Iranian state television that his country cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup "under any circumstance," given the current conditions Iran is experiencing.
The Iranian minister's statement came against the background of recent military escalations between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other, accompanied by political and security tensions.
According to media reports, among the reasons Tehran cites for not participating in the tournament are the ongoing war and military tension, in addition to the fact that the United States, along with Canada and Mexico, are hosting the tournament, raising concerns related to security and safety for the team and the Iranian sports delegation.
