Iran team hits back at Trump over threat to boycott FIFA World Cup | World Cup 2026 News

Iran says no one can exclude it from the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Iran said no one could exclude it from the soccer World Cup later this year, in response to President Donald Trump’s warning that the team’s “lives and safety” were at risk in the United States.

The Iranian team said in a social media post on Thursday that the US should not be allowed to co-host the tournament if the safety of participating teams is not guaranteed.

Trump’s comments came two days after he told FIFA chief Gianni Infantino that Iranian players would be welcome despite the Middle East war.

“Iran’s national football team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it’s appropriate for them to be there for their own lives and safety,” Trump said on his Truth social forum on Thursday.

The Iranian team responded: “The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA – no person, not a country.

“Iran’s national team is one of the first teams to qualify for this important tournament, with a series of decisive victories achieved by Shakti and the brave sons of Iran.

“Certainly no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup; the only country that can be excluded is one that only holds the title of ‘host’ but lacks the ability to provide security for teams participating in this global event.”

The war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28, has thrown into doubt Iran’s participation in this summer’s tournament, which is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Trump later posted another message on his social media platform to emphasize that the event was safe for players and spectators around the world.

“The United States of America is very much looking forward to hosting the FIFA World Cup,” Trump wrote. “Ticket Sales ‘Through the Roof!'”

The social media spat came after the country’s sports minister Ahmed Donyamali said the team would not participate after the US killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Considering that this corrupt regime (US) has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” the minister told state television on Wednesday.