FIFA president says Trump reiterated Iran 'welcome to compete' at World Cup in US amid Middle East conflict

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said President Donald Trump "reiterated" to him that Iran’s men’s nationalist shot squad would beryllium "welcome to compete" astatine the 2026 World Cup successful the United States aboriginal this summer, contempt the ongoing struggle successful the Middle East.

Infantino shared the details of his speech with the president successful a lengthy station connected Instagram connected Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump speaks arsenic (L-R) the erstwhile Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Secretary of State Marco Rubio perceive during a gathering with the White House Task Force connected the FIFA World Cup 2026 successful the Oval Office of the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected November 17, 2025. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP)

"This evening, I met with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump to sermon the presumption of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and the increasing excitement arsenic we are acceptable to footwear disconnected successful conscionable 93 days.

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"We besides spoke astir the existent concern successful Iran, and the information that the Iranian squad has qualified to enactment successful the FIFA World Cup 2026. During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian squad is, of course, invited to vie successful the tourney successful the United States," Infantino said.

 "We each request an lawsuit similar the FIFA World Cup to bring radical unneurotic present much than ever, and I sincerely convey the President of the United States for his support, arsenic it shows erstwhile again that Football Unites the World."

But connected Wednesday, Iran’s sports curate claimed a squad would not beryllium sent to the World Cup. 

President Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, be the reddish carpet anterior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw astatine the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The lawsuit took spot successful Washington, D.C., connected Dec. 5, 2025. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

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"Considering that this corrupt authorities has assassinated our leader, nether nary circumstances tin we enactment successful the World Cup," ​​Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali told authorities television, via Reuters. 

Iran is scheduled to play successful Inglewood, California, against New Zealand connected June 15 and Belgium connected June 21 earlier finishing radical play against Egypt successful Seattle connected June 26. The U.S. is hosting the tourney with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

Players of Iran observe aft the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A crippled betwixt Iran and Uzbekistan astatine Azadi Stadium connected March 25, 2025, successful Tehran, Iran. Iran's nationalist shot squad celebrated aft securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-2 gully against Uzbekistan. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)

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Trump was indifferent past week erstwhile asked astir Iran’s information successful the World Cup, telling Politico, "I truly don’t care." 

"I deliberation Iran is simply a precise severely defeated country. They’re moving connected fumes."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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