Iran has responded to warnings from United States President Donald Trump, insisting no one can exclude its national football team from the 2026 World Cup. Trump had expressed concerns over the team’s safety following the US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Iranian team said on social media that the World Cup is governed by FIFA, not any individual country, and questioned whether the United States should be allowed to co-host the tournament if it cannot guarantee security for participating teams.
Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, had previously indicated the team would not participate, citing the assassination of Khamenei as a barrier to attending. The conflict, which began on February 28, has raised broader concerns over international travel and security for the tournament.
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Trump later reassured the public that all players and spectators would be safe, emphasising that the United States looked forward to hosting the event and that ticket sales were strong. The World Cup is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
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