Donald Trump comments fuel Iran World Cup debate

March 23, 2026 Oliver Obel

Iran has confirmed it will take part in the 2026 World Cup, but says it will not play any matches scheduled in the United States, creating a potential standoff with FIFA as political tensions spill into the tournament.

The team has already qualified for the competition, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada. However, all of Iran’s Group G matches — against Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand — are currently set to be played on American soil.

According to ESPN, Iran’s football federation has held talks with FIFA about relocating those fixtures to Mexico. The governing body has rejected that request and indicated that the match schedule will remain unchanged.

Iran’s position was made clear by federation president Mehdi Taj, who said the team would still compete in the tournament but not in the US.

“We will be preparing for the World Cup. We will boycott the United States, but we will not boycott the World Cup,” Taj said, as reported by ESPN.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly ruled out any adjustments to the schedule, emphasizing that the tournament will proceed as planned.

“FIFA is looking forward to all teams participating at the FIFA World Cup to compete in a spirit of fair play and mutual respect,” he said.
“We have a schedule. We will soon have the 48 competing teams confirmed and we want the FIFA World Cup to go ahead as scheduled.”

The situation has been further complicated by comments from US President Donald Trump, who raised concerns about Iran’s presence at the tournament despite formally welcoming the team.

“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Trump said.

His remarks followed questions over whether player safety in the United States could be guaranteed amid the ongoing conflict.

With FIFA unwilling to move matches and Iran unwilling to play in the US, the issue remains unresolved. The dispute presents both a logistical and diplomatic challenge for organizers less than a year before the tournament begins.

How FIFA chooses to respond — whether by enforcing its current schedule or seeking a compromise — could set an important precedent for how global sporting events navigate geopolitical conflict.

Sources: ESPN, FIFA