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| Meta Title | Donald Trump says Iran should not play in World Cup for their âlife and safetyâ | World Cup 2026 | The Guardian |
| Meta Description | Donald Trump said Iranâs team are welcome to the World Cup but that he does not believe it is appropriate they be there âfor their own life and safetyâ |
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| Boilerpipe Text | Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, just days after telling Fifaâs chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war.
âThe Iran national soccer team is welcome to the
World Cup
, but I really donât believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,â the US president said on his Truth Social platform.
The comments came two days after Fifa president
Gianni Infantino
said he had received assurances from Trump that Iran would be welcome at the tournament, which the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
âWe 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
,â Infantino wrote in a Tuesday post on Instagram. âDuring the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.
âWe 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.â
On Wednesday, Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali
said âunder no circumstances can we participateâ
in the World Cup. Donyamali was the first government representative to speak on the World Cup since the US began bombing Iran with backing from Israel earlier this month. Iran and Fifa have yet to give an official update on the countryâs participation.
Iran have been drawn in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in the tournament. Their three matches are scheduled to take place in the US, with two in âLos Angeles and one in Seattle. |
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Donald Trump said Iran should not participate in the World Cup, days after assuring Gianni Infantino the country would be welcome. Photograph: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock
[View image in fullscreen](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/12/donald-trump-iran-status-world-cup#img-1)
Donald Trump said Iran should not participate in the World Cup, days after assuring Gianni Infantino the country would be welcome. Photograph: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock
[World Cup 2026](https://www.theguardian.com/football/world-cup-2026)
# Donald Trump says Iran should not play in World Cup for their âlife and safetyâ
- Participation is in question amid continuing war
- Fifaâs Infantino said Trump assured Iran are welcome
Agencies and [Guardian sport](https://www.theguardian.com/profile/guardian-sport)
Thu 12 Mar 2026 16.48 CET
Last modified on Fri 13 Mar 2026 14.56 CET
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Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, just days after telling Fifaâs chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war.
âThe Iran national soccer team is welcome to the [World Cup](https://www.theguardian.com/football/world-cup-football), but I really donât believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,â the US president said on his Truth Social platform.
The comments came two days after Fifa president [Gianni Infantino](https://www.theguardian.com/football/gianni-infantino) said he had received assurances from Trump that Iran would be welcome at the tournament, which the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
[Iranâs sports minister says football team will not play at 2026 World Cup Read more](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/11/donald-trump-iran-welcome-2026-world-cup-gianni-infantino)
âWe 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](https://www.theguardian.com/football/world-cup-2026),â Infantino wrote in a Tuesday post on Instagram. âDuring the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.
âWe all need an event like the [Fifa](https://www.theguardian.com/football/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.â
On Wednesday, Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali [said âunder no circumstances can we participateâ](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/11/donald-trump-iran-welcome-2026-world-cup-gianni-infantino) in the World Cup. Donyamali was the first government representative to speak on the World Cup since the US began bombing Iran with backing from Israel earlier this month. Iran and Fifa have yet to give an official update on the countryâs participation.
Iran have been drawn in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in the tournament. Their three matches are scheduled to take place in the US, with two in âLos Angeles and one in Seattle.
Explore more on these topics
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- [Iran (World news)](https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran)
- [news](https://www.theguardian.com/tone/news)
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| Readable Markdown | Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, just days after telling Fifaâs chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war.
âThe Iran national soccer team is welcome to the [World Cup](https://www.theguardian.com/football/world-cup-football), but I really donât believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,â the US president said on his Truth Social platform.
The comments came two days after Fifa president [Gianni Infantino](https://www.theguardian.com/football/gianni-infantino) said he had received assurances from Trump that Iran would be welcome at the tournament, which the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
âWe 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](https://www.theguardian.com/football/world-cup-2026),â Infantino wrote in a Tuesday post on Instagram. âDuring the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.
âWe all need an event like the [Fifa](https://www.theguardian.com/football/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.â
On Wednesday, Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali [said âunder no circumstances can we participateâ](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/11/donald-trump-iran-welcome-2026-world-cup-gianni-infantino) in the World Cup. Donyamali was the first government representative to speak on the World Cup since the US began bombing Iran with backing from Israel earlier this month. Iran and Fifa have yet to give an official update on the countryâs participation.
Iran have been drawn in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in the tournament. Their three matches are scheduled to take place in the US, with two in âLos Angeles and one in Seattle. |
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