US President Donald Trump advised the Iranian squad to skip the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He posted on Truth Social that the team remained welcome. However, Trump added it would not prove appropriate for the players’ life and safety. The warning came amid ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Iran’s national football team hit back immediately. The squad posted on its official Instagram account that no one could exclude it from the tournament. Team Melli stated, “No one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup.”
The team stressed that the World Cup formed a historic international event governed by FIFA alone. Moreover, it declared that no individual or single country held the power to decide participation.
The Iranian side pointed to its strong record. It noted, “Iran’s national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament.” Additionally, the team argued that only a host nation unable to guarantee security might face exclusion.
It added, “Certainly, no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup. The only country that could be excluded is one that merely carries the title of host yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event.”
The exchange unfolded on Thursday as the co-hosted 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico approached. Iran’s national football team qualified early and insisted on its right to compete under FIFA rules.
