US President Donald Trump cautioned Iran’s national football team on Thursday regarding their “life and safety” if they participated in the upcoming World Cup in North America. Trump’s statement followed his recent assurance to FIFA President Gianni Infantino that Iranian players would be accepted despite the conflict in the Middle East.
Expressing his views on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “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 ongoing conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes on February 28, has raised uncertainties about Iran’s involvement in this summer’s men’s football World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Infantino, the head of FIFA, mentioned earlier this week that during a White House meeting with Trump, they discussed the “current situation in Iran.” “President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino wrote following the meeting on Tuesday. In December, Infantino established a FIFA peace prize and presented it to Trump, marking the first acknowledgment by the football chief of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Trump also intervened this week in the case of Iranian women footballers visiting Australia, advocating for their asylum. The players had concerns about facing repercussions in Iran for not singing the national anthem before an Asian Cup match. Subsequently, Australia agreed to provide asylum to the five players who opted to remain in the country.
