US President Donald Trump has issued a harrowing threat towards Iran, casting further doubt on the nation’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America.
Since a US-Israeli strike hit Tehran, Iran’s capital city, on 28 February, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Middle Eastern nation’s participation in the World Cup has been under threat.
Several figures have spoken out, with Trump suggesting Iran’s men’s team are “welcome” despite the ongoing conflict. However, the 79-year-old also said that he felt it wasn’t “appropriate” for the side to take part “for their own life and safety”.
Iran are currently scheduled to face Egypt, Belgium and New Zealand in Group G, with all three of their group matches set to take place in the US.
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There have been suggestions that Iran would pull out if matches are not moved to Mexico or Canada – the two other co-hosts.
On Sunday (5 April), Iran’s sports minister said the nation’s participation in the tournament depended on whether FIFA would relocate matches away from the US.
“If [our request to FIFA] is accepted, Iran’s participation in the World Cup will be certain,” Ahmad Donyamali told Türkiye’s Anadolu news agency.
However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has already claimed that “matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw”.
And just 65 days from the start of the tournament, on Tuesday (7 April), Trump warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if Iran failed to reach a deal relating to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz connects some of the world’s most important shipping routes, with much of the world’s oil passing through it on a daily basis.
Trump wrote on social media platform Truth Social: “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.
“However, now that we have complete and total regime change, where different, smarter and less radicalised minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight – one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world. 47 years of extortion, corruption and death will finally end. God bless the great people of Iran.”
The US president also appeared to set a deadline on Sunday, posting: “Tuesday 8:00 P.M Eastern Time!”
It remains unclear how Trump’s latest threats will impact Iran’s participation in the World Cup.
Topics: Donald Trump, FIFA World Cup, Football
Luke Davies