President of the United States, Donald Trump, says Iran will be welcome to compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Relations between the United States and Iran have deteriorated following the latest military escalation, widely referred to as Operation Epic Fury, which began on February 28, 2026.
Despite the geopolitical tensions, Trump has indicated that the Iranian national team will still be allowed to participate in the global tournament, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico.
The assurance was revealed by Gianni Infantino following a meeting with the U.S. president to discuss preparations for the World Cup.
Posting on Instagram, the FIFA president said Trump remains enthusiastic about the tournament, which is now just 93 days away.
“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 wrote.
He added that the issue of Iran’s participation was also discussed during their conversation.
“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.
Infantino also stressed the unifying power of football, especially during periods of global tension.
“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever,” he said. “Football unites the world.”
With less than three months to the start of the tournament, preparations for the expanded 48-team competition are intensifying, with organisers expecting one of the biggest and most watched sporting events in history.
