FIFA have once again been urged to ban Iran from competing at the 2026 World Cup, despite the organisation’s president, Gianni Infantino, and US President Donald Trump suggesting that the Middle Eastern nation will feature at the tournament.
Since the outbreak of conflict between US-Israeli forces and Iran back in February this year, the nation’s participation in the upcoming World Cup has been shrouded in controversy.
As things stand, Iran are set to face Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt in Group C, with all three of their group fixtures set to take place in the US – one of the three host nations alongside Mexico and Canada.
Iran’s football federation also saw a request to move these fixtures to a neighbouring co-host nation rejected by FIFA.
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This stance comes despite President Trump previously advising the team against travelling to the US for their own “life and safety”, while also suggesting the nation’s participation would be “inappropriate” due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Donald Trump's performs Iran World Cup U-turn
Now, as the tournament nears, Trump has changed his stance on the matter.
After FIFA president Infantino said Iran “will play” at the World Cup during a FIFA Congress meeting on Thursday, Trump appeared to follow suit.
Infantino explained: “Of course, Iran will play in the United States of America. The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together.”
Later in the day, speaking in the Oval Office, Trump offered his thoughts on the latest developments, saying: “Well, if Gianni said it, I’m OK.”
“Did Gianni say it? Gianni Infantino – that’s a piece of work.”
When pressed on what would happen if Iran went on to win the tournament, he added: “If they win we’ll have to worry about that. I’m going to have to worry about that one.
“You know what, let them play. Gianni is fantastic, he’s a friend of mine. He talked about it, I said, ‘you do whatever you want’. You can have them, you don’t have to have them. They probably have a good team. Do they have a good team, do you have any idea?”
'Russia was banned... we expect FIFA to do the same'
And despite two of the most important decision-makers, Infantino and Trump, making it clear that Iran will compete in the World Cup as previously planned, many believe the nation should be banned.
Protesters gathered outside the FIFA Congress in Vancouver yesterday, urging the organisation to ban Iran from competing due to the team’s links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – a branch of Iran’s armed forces established after the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
“This is not Iran, this is the Islamic Republic’s team. This is the IRGC’s team,” said Mission for My Homeland member Pouri Mahmoudi when speaking to Reuters.
“They’re here not to represent Iran. They’re here to normalise what’s happening in Iran, the massacre in Iran. So, no, they should not be in the World Cup.”
He added: “What about those who have been killed — the Iranian footballers who have been killed as well? FIFA shouldn’t be quiet about them.
“People should speak up about the athletes who have been killed, especially the footballers. Russia was banned from the World Cup, so we expect FIFA to do the same.”
There is no suggestion that FIFA will ban Iran from the tournament at this time.
The World Cup gets underway on June 11, with Mexico facing South Africa in the opener at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
Topics: FIFA, Gianni Infantino, Donald Trump, Football
Luke Davies