President Donald Trump has confirmed to FIFA that Iran is “welcome” to participate in this summer’s World Cup, as stated by Gianni Infantino.
The Iranian team’s participation has come under scrutiny following air strikes launched by the U.S. and Israel on Iran on February 28.
The escalating conflict has drawn in various nations in the Middle East, with Iran responding by targeting U.S. military bases in the region.
While Trump previously expressed indifference about Iran’s involvement in the World Cup, Infantino claims that following a recent meeting, Trump expressed his support for the Iranian team’s inclusion.
In an Instagram post, Infantino shared, “Today, I met with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, to discuss preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup and the growing excitement as we approach kickoff in just 93 days.”
Infantino continued, “We also discussed the current situation in Iran and the Iranian team’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026. President Trump reaffirmed that the Iranian team is indeed welcome to compete in the tournament here in the United States.”
“Now more than ever, we need events like the FIFA World Cup to unite people, and I extend my sincere gratitude to the President for his support; it demonstrates once again that football truly unites the world.”
The Iranian team is set to play all their group matches in the U.S. and could potentially face the co-hosting team in the round of 32, should both teams secure second place in their respective groups.