Trump says Iran’s World Cup participation may not be ‘appropriate,’ while adding men’s team is still ‘welcome’

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.'

Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup remained in doubt this week after the country's sports minister reportedly threatened to pull the men’s soccer team from the tournament largely taking place in the United States this summer. 

Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali reportedly told state television this week that it's "not possible" for the country to take part in the highly anticipated tournament after the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed amid the U.S. and Israeli joint military operations against Iran, which began on Feb. 28. 

President Donald Trump has spoken about Iran's status for the World Cup previously, but suggested Thursday that while the men's squad is "welcome" to compete in the U.S. after qualifying, it might not be "appropriate." 

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A screen grab from a video released on President Donald Trump’s Truth Social account shows him making statements regarding combat operations on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida. (President Trump via Truth Social/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety," Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social post on Thursday.

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Iran is slated to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15. It is also scheduled to face Belgium on June 21 before finishing group play against Egypt in