Trump Says He Attaches No Importance to Iran’s Participation in the 2026 World Cup

In an interview with Politico, the American leader said he saw no particular issue in the presence of the Iranian national team in the competition. “It makes absolutely no difference to me. Iran today is a very weakened country,” he said, at a time when tensions between Washington and Tehran have recently intensified.

These remarks come amid a particularly tense regional context. Strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against targets in Iran triggered a strong reaction from Tehran, which retaliated with attacks targeting states allied with Washington in the Gulf region. This military escalation has fueled concerns over a possible widening of the conflict.

On the sporting front, Iran has nonetheless secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, marking its fourth consecutive appearance in the tournament. The Iranian side is set to begin the competition in Los Angeles, with matches scheduled against New Zealand and Belgium, before a final group-stage fixture in Seattle against Egypt.

However, uncertainty still surrounds the team’s actual participation. The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, recently acknowledged that the current political situation could influence the final decision. In statements broadcast on Iranian television, he indicated that the country’s sports authorities were examining the various possible options.

For its part, FIFA has adopted a cautious stance. Its Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, recalled that the organization remains focused on ensuring a secure tournament open to all qualified teams.

With kick-off scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026, developments in the geopolitical situation could nonetheless impact the staging of the competition and the participation of certain national teams.

Editorial team/le7tv