Trump Comments on Iran’s Participation in the 2026 World Cup

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his indifference regarding the Iranian national team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup finals, stating in a press interview that he “really doesn’t care” if Iran competes in the tournament scheduled to be held in the United States next summer.

Trump’s statements came amid escalating political tensions between Washington and Tehran, raising questions about the impact of diplomatic disputes on the participation of Iran’s national football team in the global tournament.

The finals are hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, amid extensive organizational and security arrangements. Although Iran officially qualified through the Asian qualifiers, political controversy has reignited the debate over the visa granting mechanism and the procedures for the entry of sports delegations.

For its part, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has full authority to organize the tournament’s affairs and make decisions related to the participation of teams in the event of exceptional circumstances. So far, there are no official indications of Iran’s exclusion, pending developments in the coming period.