Iran’s national team continues to plan to compete in the 2026 World Cup, officials from the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) said on Monday (16), despite Donald Trump’s warnings about the danger to athletes due to the war with the United States and Israel.
The American president warned last week that the team’s “life and safety” could be in danger if they participate in the tournament, between June 11 and July 19, which will be organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The war, triggered by American and Israeli attacks against Iran on February 28, cast doubt on the country’s participation, which had already been classified.
“As far as we know, Iran will play,” said Windsor Paul John, general secretary of the AFC. “We are monitoring whether they will play or not, but at the moment, they will play. There is no official information that they will not participate,” he declared in an interview at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Windsor emphasized that the AFC wants Iran, a “top-tier team”, to participate in the world’s premier national team competition.
“We hope they resolve their problems and can participate in the World Cup,” he said.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Iranian team was welcome, “but I really don’t think it’s appropriate for them to be there, for their safety and well-being.”
Last week, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, cast doubt on his country’s participation in the 2026 World Cup.
“How can we be optimistic in these conditions regarding the World Cup in the United States? If the World Cup takes place under these conditions, who in their right mind would send their national team to a place like that?”, he asked on social media.
In turn, the Iranian women’s team, which recently participated in the Asian Cup, left Malaysia this Monday for Oman, before returning permanently to its country.
