Donald Trump Calls for ‘Regime Change’ in World Cup Nation Ahead of Tournament
The US President made his feelings clear when speaking at a press conference on Friday (February 13).
US President Donald Trump has called on a World Cup nation’s leader to step down as international tensions flare ahead of the 2026 tournament.
Trump will likely be front and centre during the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place across the US, Canada and Mexico.
Of the 104 fixtures scheduled, 78 will be played in the US, with the other 26 games set to be played in Mexico and Canada.
And ahead of the tournament, Trump has caused controversy for more reasons than one.
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Concerns remain about the presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the tournament, while citizens of 38 nations are either partially restricted or fully banned from travelling to the US.
Of these nations, several will compete in the World Cup, including Ivory Coast, Haiti, Senegal and Iran.
There have also been concerns among fans of the aforementioned nations about being unable to attend the tournament due to the travel restrictions.
In January, Trump issued an updated list with 75 nations impacted by a widespread visa processing freeze.
Also, last month, a US State Department official told the Mirror that the "ban applies to the issuance of immigrant visas only, and does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as those for tourists, athletes and their families, and media professionals intending to travel for the World Cup".
Since then, the US and Iran have become embroiled in tension after thousands of protesters, who took to the streets in relation to the poor economic state of the country, were killed between late December and today. Reports from AP claim that the number is above 7,000.
Threats were sent back and forth between US and Iranian officials, including Trump, who promised protestors that help was coming from the US.
Since then, the 79-year-old has tried to pressure the Middle Eastern nation to agree to a nuclear deal, with Trump even threatening air strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also acted as mediator between Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader, with the Israeli leader being hosted at the White House this week.
As relayed by BBC News, Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful and not being used to develop nuclear weapons.
Speaking on Friday, after the US sent a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, Trump said that a regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen”.
"It seems like that would be the best thing that could happen," said Trump.
"For 47 years, they've been talking and talking and talking.
"In the meantime, we've lost a lot of lives while they talk. Legs blown off, arms blown off, faces blown off. We've been going on for a long time."
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has previously threatened the US, claiming that military intervention could result in war.
The 86-year-old has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989, having previously been president of the nation between 1981 and 1989.
Could the US exclude Iran from the World Cup?
There have been some suggestions that the US could, in fact, request that Iran be excluded from the tournament; however, there has been no suggestion from FIFA that this will happen.
Speaking to SPORTbible in January, Professor Simon Chadwick, who runs GeoSport and has previously served as director of research for the organisers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and has also advised Barcelona, explained how a decision on banning Iran – or any other nation – would be made by FIFA, not the Trump administration or any other political figure.
“They'll [FIFA] be on the ground working on security issues,” Chadwick added.
“They'll be on the ground working on sponsorships and partnerships. They'll be on the ground dealing with broadcasting and media content.
“So it is part of FIFA's rules that if you become an event host, at some point the host nation steps aside and FIFA comes in and runs the event. So this is a FIFA decision, ultimately.
“It's not a United States decision. It's not a British government decision. It's not a football fan decision. This is a FIFA decision.”
SPORTbible has contacted FIFA for comment.
Topics: Donald Trump, FIFA World Cup
Luke Davies