World News : A fresh controversy has emerged ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The tournament will feature 48 teams for the first time, including Iran national football team.
Iran has been placed in Group G, with all its group-stage matches scheduled to be played in the United States. However, rising political tensions in the Middle East have raised questions about whether Iran will ultimately participate in the tournament.
Trump’s Statement Adds Fuel to the Debate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump stirred controversy with a statement on his social media platform Truth Social. Trump wrote that the Iranian team is “welcome” at the World Cup but added that he does not believe it would be safe for them to be present in the U.S.
His remark quickly sparked criticism and intensified the debate surrounding Iran’s participation in the event.
Iran Team Hits Back
Responding strongly, the Iran national football team stated on social media that the World Cup is a tournament governed by an international organization, not a single country. The team emphasized that it earned its place in the tournament through sporting merit and cannot be excluded arbitrarily.
The statement also claimed that if the host country cannot ensure adequate security for participating teams, then the issue lies with the host rather than the teams themselves.
Pressure Mounts on FIFA
The controversy has increased pressure on Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA. Some critics have demanded that FIFA reconsider the hosting rights of the United States and take action in light of geopolitical tensions.
However, Infantino recently stated that he had spoken with Donald Trump, who assured him there would be no issues for the Iranian team traveling to the United States for the tournament.
Meanwhile, Iran’s sports minister has indicated that due to security concerns and political tensions, sending the national team to the U.S. may currently be difficult.
The situation remains uncertain as the world football governing body faces mounting pressure to ensure that the global tournament proceeds without political interference.
