Donald Trump says he ‘does not care’ if Iran play at 2026 World Cup
US President Donald Trump has said he “does not care” if Iran participate in the 2026 World Cup, claiming the nation is “running on fumes” amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Mr Trump made the comments to Politico on Tuesday regarding the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“I really don’t care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country,” he said.
“They’re running on fumes.”
Doubts over the team’s involvement deepened this week after Iran was the only qualified nation absent from a Fifa planning summit in Atlanta.
Visa concerns and security
Iran is currently subject to strict travel bans enacted by executive order in June.
While the ban includes carve-outs for World Cup squads, visas for support staff and government officials remain a matter for the State Department on a case-by-case basis.
Andrew Giuliani, director of the White House Fifa World Cup Task Force, emphasised that security concerns would dictate entry requirements.
“President Trump’s decisive action to eliminate the Ayatollah… removes a major destabilizing threat,” Giuliani told Politico.
He added the move would “help protect people around the world, including Americans and the millions planning to attend the 2026 World Cup”.
Group stage logistics
Team Melli secured a spot at their fourth successive global finals by topping their qualifying group last year.
The Asian qualifiers have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
Their schedule currently involves two matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Should both the US and Iran finish second in their respective groups, the political rivals could meet in a knockout match in Dallas on 3 July.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, has previously suggested regional conflicts “did not augur well” for the tournament.
However, no qualified team has withdrawn from the World Cup finals in the modern era.
Fifa has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Iran’s attendance.
