United States (US) President Donald Trump advised the Iranian national football team not to participate in the 2026 World Cup due to concerns about the safety of the players amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Trump's statement came two days after he told FIFA President Gianni Infantino that the Iranian team would still be welcome to play in the tournament, despite the war-torn Middle East.
"The Iranian National Football Team is welcome to participate in the World Cup, but I strongly advise them to stay here (in the US), for their own lives and safety," Trump wrote via his social media platform Truth Social.
