Trump Shrugs Off Iran’s Participation in FIFA World Cup 2026

By Eppe Franklyne

• Trump’s comment: Former US President Donald Trump stated he “really doesn’t care” about Iran taking part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
• Context: The remark comes amid ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, with several embassies hit and over 1,000 casualties reported in Iran.
• FIFA response: The governing body has not issued a detailed statement, though president Gianni Infantino expressed hope for peace.
• Iran situation: Iran, the first team to qualify for the tournament, missed a planning meeting for participating nations. Its participation in scheduled group matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt may be uncertain.

Former US President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns over Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Speaking to POLITICO on Tuesday, Trump said, “I really don’t care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.” His comments come amid escalating hostilities between the US and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, with retaliatory strikes having targeted US embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Lebanon, as well as a US military base in Qatar.

The ongoing conflict has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people in Iran, including children, according to reports from US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Despite the geopolitical tensions, FIFA has not yet made a detailed public statement. President Gianni Infantino expressed optimism, saying, “I hope so much it will be a moment of peace. The world really needs it.”

Iran, the first team to qualify for the upcoming World Cup, was recently unable to attend a planning meeting for participating nations in Atlanta due to the conflict. The Iranian federation’s president, Mehdi Taj, indicated that recent attacks make it uncertain whether the team will participate in scheduled group matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt.