Topics: Donald Trump, United States, FIFA World Cup
US President Donald Trump has issued a telling verdict on whether Iran should play at the 2026 World Cup as question marks remain over their participation at this summer's tournament.
In three months' time, Iran are due to travel to the United States for the World Cup, which is also being co-hosted by Canada and Mexico, as they prepare to take on Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G.
However, their status at the tournament remains uncertain amid escalating conflict.
On Saturday morning, the US and Israel launched a 'major combat operation' against Iran after talks over the Gulf nation's nuclear programme stalled.
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Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in an airstrike, and the country subsequently launched retaliatory attacks on US and Israel military bases across the West Region of the Middle East.
Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj reportedly said that "we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope" after the attacks.
US Soccer CEO JT Batson, meanwhile, has told Sky News that the World Cup co-hosts are "very supportive" of Iran playing in the competition as FIFA continue to monitor the situation closely.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is hopeful. "I hope so much it will be a moment of peace," he said. "I hope we can contribute to unite a little bit of the world. I think the world really, really, needs it."
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump gave his thoughts on the matter.
Speaking to Politico, he insisted he "does not care" if Iran take part in the upcoming World Cup. “I really don’t care," he said. "I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They're running on fumes."
It was also reported that Iran were the only country missing from a World Cup planning meeting in Atlanta this week for participating nations, an event organised by FIFA.
If Iran decides to withdraw, or a decision is taken that they cannot compete, FIFA's regulations state that they will be replaced "with a nominated alternate, often the direct runner-up from the relevant qualifying playoff or highest-ranked non-qualified team from that confederation".
Either the United Arab Emirates or Iraq would likely be awarded the qualification place, with Iraq having defeated the UAE to reach the inter-confederation play-offs.
However, FIFA could take the unlikely step of looking outside of Asia and choose a loser of the inter-confederation playoffs, as per ESPN.
FIFA's regulations on withdrawals state that the world football governing body "shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary".
