Iran has insisted that no country or political leader has the authority to prevent it from competing in the FIFA World Cup, responding strongly to remarks made by United States President Donald Trump regarding the team’s participation in the global tournament.
The Iranian national football team issued a statement on social media on Thursday, stressing that decisions about participation in the tournament rest solely with FIFA, the governing body of world football.
The team maintained that its place in the competition was earned through sporting merit and cannot be revoked by any individual nation.
The reaction followed comments by Trump suggesting that Iran’s players might face risks if they travel to the United States for the tournament.
In a message shared on his Truth Social platform, the American president said that while the Iranian squad would technically be welcomed, he believed their presence at the tournament might not be appropriate because of concerns about their “life and safety.”
Iran’s football authorities rejected the suggestion outright.
In their response, they emphasised that the World Cup is a global sporting event managed by FIFA rather than by any political leader or host country.
The team added that it secured qualification after a strong series of victories and therefore deserved its place among the competing nations.
The oficials further warned that if any host country cannot guarantee the safety of visiting teams, it should reconsider its role as a host rather than questioning the eligibility of qualified participants.
According to the statement, Iran cannot be excluded from the tournament, but a host nation that fails to provide security for competitors could face scrutiny.
Trump’s remarks came shortly after he met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, during which he reportedly assured that Iranian players would be allowed to participate despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Those tensions intensified following military strikes carried out on February 28 involving the United States and Israel, a development that has added uncertainty to Iran’s involvement in the upcoming tournament.
The war has raised wider concerns about security and diplomatic relations ahead of the competition.
Despite the controversy, Trump later posted another message highlighting America’s enthusiasm for hosting the tournament. He said the United States is looking forward to staging the World Cup and noted that ticket sales for the event have been exceptionally strong.
The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup would be jointly hosted by United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time the competition will be held across three nations.
The organisers have repeatedly assured that security arrangements will be in place to protect players, officials, and fans from around the world.
