The Iranian national soccer team has issued a furious response to Donald Trump’s World Cup warning.
Iran has qualified for this summer’s soccer showpiece, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
However, uncertainty over the nation’s participation in the tournament has intensified over the past week after the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, killing the country’s supreme leader.
Iran responded with retaliatory attacks on US-allied states in the Gulf, further escalating the conflict.
In a remarkable intervention by the White House, Trump spoke out about the issue on Truth Social on Thursday, warning the Iranians to withdraw from the World Cup for their ‘own life and safety.’
Iran’s national team pushed back against the president’s suggestion, saying that its participation in the World Cup is not dictated by one particular country or individual.
‘The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA – not any individual or country,’ the team said in a statement shared to Instagram.
The Iranian national soccer team has issued a furious response to Donald Trump’s warning
Trump warned the Iran team to stay away from the World Cup for their ‘own life and safety’
‘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.
‘Certainly, no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup; 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.’
However, the defiant statement came in contrast to comments made by the country’s sports minister just one day prior.
Off the back of the head of Iran’s football federation, Mehdi Taj, stating that it is ‘unlikely that we can look forward to the cup,’ sports minister Ahmad Donyamal seemingly confirmed that Iran would boycott the soccer spectacular.
He said that there were ‘no conditions under which we can participate’ and there was ‘no possibility’ that they will feature at the tournament.
‘Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,’ Ahmad Donyamal said in a television interview on Wednesday via RTE.
‘In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed. Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way.’
The World Cup will be staged across the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, with Iran due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21 respectively, as well as Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
In December, FIFA president Gianni Infantino awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize
Back in December, FIFA president Gianni Infantino awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. He later claimed he had been given assurances from the president that the Iranian football team would be ‘welcome’ at the tournament.
‘This evening, I met with the President of the United States, Donald J Trump to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and the growing excitement as we are set to kick off in just 93 days,’ Infantino said in a statement.
‘We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
‘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, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World.’
However, on Thursday Trump claimed that it would not be appropriate for the Iranians to compete at this summer’s tournament.
‘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,’ he wrote.
‘Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.’
Iran secured a place in a fourth successive World Cup by finishing top of Group A in Asian qualifying. The team was slated to be based at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.
