President Donald Trump believes it is not “appropriate” for Iran to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup — for its own safety.
The president took to Truth Social Thursday and warned the team their “life and safety” would be at risk if they chose to participate.
“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,” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
On Wednesday, Iran announced its soccer team would boycott the 2026 World Cup in the United States due to the Operation Epic Fury.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said in a statement. “Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.”
“Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people,” he added. “Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence.”
More than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed in airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel over the past few weeks. This includes a reported 170 school children, who were killed in the U.S. bombing of a girls’ school.
A few months ago, FIFA awarded Trump its first-ever “FIFA Peace Prize.”The organization praised Trump for supposedly helping to bring about peace in the Middle East.
“We want to live in a safe world, in a safe environment,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said. “And you definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize.”
