FIFA’s Gianni Infantino said Donald Trump said Iran was welcome to compete in the World Cup.
Later his participation was doubted US and Israeli forces hit IranIran retaliates with attacks on US assets and allies across the region.
However, Mr Infantino said he had met the US president on Tuesday night to “discuss the state of readiness” for the tournament and had accepted the promise. Iran Welcome to compete world cupCo-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.
Following the latest in the Iran War
“During the discussions, President Trump “The Iranian team is welcome to participate in the tournament in the United States,” the chief reiterated FIFA said on Instagram.
“Now more than ever we need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support as it shows once again that soccer can unite the world.”
Trump: ‘I don’t really care’ if Iran plays
Iran’s men’s national team is scheduled to play New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, California, before facing Belgium on June 21 and Egypt on June 26.
Mr Trump, he says, has a strong relationship with Mr Infantino and has embraced it FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize last year“I don’t really care” if Iran takes part in the tournament, he said last week.
Then comes six members of the Iranian women’s football team – five players and one staff member Granted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia Fearing he might be in danger after not singing Iran’s national anthem before the game. They were inside Australia For the Asian Cup.
A team player has decided to return to Iran.
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Donald Trump’s travel ban is already affecting capacity Iran fans to travel to US But teams will be exempted from participation.
FIFA’s World Cup chief operating officer said earlier this week that the global turmoil caused by the US and Israeli war on Iran was “too big” to postpone the tournament.
CEO Heimo Schirgi said: “The World Cup will obviously continue, right? The World Cup is very big, and we hope that everyone who qualifies can participate.”
