Iran’s Soccer Team Responds to World Cup Qualification Questions
Iran’s men’s national soccer team has pushed back against any doubts about its qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which is set to take place primarily in the United States. In a statement released on Thursday, the team insisted that “no one can exclude” them from the tournament.
This declaration follows remarks from Iran’s sports minister, who had implied uncertainty about the team’s participation, and earlier comments from President Trump suggesting that while he would “welcome” the team, their participation “might not be appropriate” considering the ongoing issues in the region.
The statement, shared on social media, emphasized the World Cup’s historical significance and FIFA’s authority, stating, “The Iranian national team was among the first to qualify for this major tournament, demonstrating its strength through decisive victories.” They further affirmed, “Certainly, no one can exclude the Iranian national team from the World Cup.” They added that only host nations unable to ensure security could be excluded.
Iran has scheduled matches against New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, California, Belgium on June 21, and will wrap up group play against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. The tournament will be hosted in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Last week, when asked about Iran’s potential participation, President Trump expressed indifference, saying, “I really don’t care.”
However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino later mentioned that during a conversation with Trump, the U.S. President reiterated that Iran’s team is indeed welcome to compete in the upcoming tournament. Infantino stated, “We all need events like the FIFA World Cup that bring people together now more than ever.”
Despite this, Iran’s sports minister recently commented on state television that the team could not participate in the World Cup due to political tensions, saying, “We cannot under any circumstances participate in the World Cup, given that this corrupt regime assassinated our leader.”
In a Truth Social post, Trump reiterated his welcome to Iran but cautioned that it might not be safe for them to be present. Meanwhile, Iran clinched its World Cup spot for the fourth consecutive year, ranking 20th in FIFA’s listings. Although the Iranian football federation missed a meeting in Atlanta aimed at preparing for the tournament, they plan to attend the FIFA annual general meeting in Canada next month.
