FIFA president says Trump reiterated Iran 'welcome to compete' at World Cup in US amid Middle East conflict

Fox Sports soccer analyst and former American soccer player Alexi Lalas discusses the anticipation building for the FIFA World Cup hosted in the U.S. on 'Fox News Live.'

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said President Donald Trump "reiterated" to him that Iran’s men’s national soccer team would be "welcome to compete" at the 2026 World Cup in the United States later this summer, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Infantino shared the details of his conversation with the president in a lengthy post on Instagram on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump speaks as (L-R) the former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Secretary of State Marco Rubio listen during a meeting with the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 17, 2025. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP)

"This evening, 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.

 CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"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 said.

 "We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World."

But on Wednesday, Iran’s sports minister claimed a squad