President Donald Trump signaled a shift in his public stance on whether Iran’s national soccer team should participate in the forthcoming FIFA World Cup.
Trump maintained that the team is welcome to participate in the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but added that it may be unsafe for players amid the prolonged war in Iran.
“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 president said in a Truth Social post.
The statement marks a change in tone from Trump after his recent discussion with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who said the president assured him the Iranian team would be permitted to travel and compete in the tournament.
Infantino said Trump “reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” emphasizing the World Cup’s role in bringing nations together.
Trump’s initial welcoming came as Tehran said Iran’s team cannot participate due to the war with the U.S.
“Considering that this corrupt regime [the U.S.] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said, adding that “conditions for participation do not exist.”
The tournament, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across North America, will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams. Iran qualified for the event last year after topping its Asian qualifying group and has been placed in group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, with matches scheduled in Los Angeles and Seattle.
TRUMP SAYS IRANIAN SOCCER TEAM ‘WELCOME’ AT WORLD CUP DESPITE TEHRAN OPPOSITION
If Iran’s team is forced to withdraw from the tournament, the Asian Football Confederation would tap the closest qualifying nation to compete in Iran’s place. The replacement team could be Iraq, as the country’s team could qualify by winning their intercontinental playoff against either Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 31.
Iran’s women’s team has gained national notoriety and caught Trump’s attention after players sought asylum in Australia while visiting for the Women’s Asian Cup. Australia granted players asylum after Trump weighed in, but the president said some players chose to return to Iran to be with family despite dangers posed by the regime.