U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran is welcome to compete at the 2026 World Cup, according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Infantino and Trump met Tuesday, March 10 amid a growing crisis in the Middle East and questions surrounding Iran’s participation in the World Cup.
The U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran late last month, kicking off an armed conflict that shows no sign of slowing down and has drawn in several countries across the Middle East.
Iran qualified for the World Cup, and is scheduled to play New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Iran’s soccer federation president cast doubt on his country’s participation in the aftermath of the U.S. and Israeli attacks.
‘What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,’ Mehdi Taj told Iran state television.
Gianni Infantino meets with Trump
Infantino has been mostly silent when it comes to the situation in the Middle East, but said he discussed the crisis with Trump during a meeting Tuesday.
‘This evening, I met with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and the growing excitement as we are set to kick off in just 93 days,’ Infantino said on Instagram. ‘We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026. During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States. ‘We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World.’
Trump’s comments to Infantino were in stark contrast to last week, when he told Politico ‘I really don’t care’ if Iran participates in the World Cup.
Infantino has faced heavy criticism for his decision to award Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December.