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URLhttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/12/donald-trump-iran-status-world-cup
Last Crawled2026-04-07 11:42:29 (12 days ago)
First Indexed2026-03-12 15:50:11 (1 month ago)
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Meta TitleDonald Trump says Iran should not play in World Cup for their ‘life and safety’ | World Cup 2026 | The Guardian
Meta DescriptionDonald Trump said Iran’s team are welcome to the World Cup but that he does not believe it is appropriate they be there ‘for their own life and safety’
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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 Fifa’s chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war. “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,” 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. “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 ,” Infantino wrote in a Tuesday post on Instagram. “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.” On Wednesday, Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said “under no circumstances can we participate” 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 country’s 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 ‌Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
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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 ‘life and safety’ - Participation is in question amid continuing war - Fifa’s 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 Share [Prefer the Guardian on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=theguardian.com) Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, just days after telling Fifa’s chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war. “The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the [World Cup](https://www.theguardian.com/football/world-cup-football), but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” 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. [![Iran's colours at the World Cup draw. ](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/70bdbd0c2c04c1e375feb815da0bc6bfe162dc6a/450_0_4990_3992/master/4990.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4152f7a0b3f5f61f6533876b603884c6)Iran’s 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) “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](https://www.theguardian.com/football/world-cup-2026),” Infantino wrote in a Tuesday post on Instagram. “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](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.” On Wednesday, Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali [said “under no circumstances can we participate”](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 country’s 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 ‌Los Angeles and one in Seattle. 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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 Fifa’s chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war. “The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the [World Cup](https://www.theguardian.com/football/world-cup-football), but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” 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. “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](https://www.theguardian.com/football/world-cup-2026),” Infantino wrote in a Tuesday post on Instagram. “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](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.” On Wednesday, Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali [said “under no circumstances can we participate”](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 country’s 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 ‌Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Shard99 (laksa)
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