Iran National Team Responds to Trump's Safety Guarantee Remarks for World Cup in US

G. E (Elbotola)

13 March 2026at12:30

The Iranian national football team has officially responded to statements made by former US President Donald Trump, who questioned the United States' ability to guarantee the safety of Iranian players during the upcoming World Cup finals. Through its official Instagram account, the team asserted that no party could exclude them from the global tournament, emphasizing that FIFA, the international football governing body, is the sole authority responsible for organizing the event, not any individual or specific country.

These responses followed a post by Trump, in which he suggested that the Iranian team's presence might not be suitable for their personal safety, despite welcoming their participation. This prompted the Iranian side to state in its official release, "It is certain that no one can exclude the Iranian national team from the World Cup, and the only country that can be excluded is the one that holds the title of host and lacks the ability to provide security for the participating teams in this global event." The Iranian team further indicated that a failure to secure participants could negatively impact the US team's status as a co-host for the tournament, which is being held jointly with Mexico and Canada.

The Iranian statement clarified, "The World Cup is a historic and international event, and its governing body is FIFA, not any individual or country," reflecting adherence to international sports authority in the face of political stances. The Iranian national team is scheduled to play its three group stage matches within US territory, facing New Zealand in Inglewood, California, on June 15, then Belgium on June 21, before concluding this stage against the Egyptian national team in Seattle on June 26.

The Iranian national team is ranked 20th in the FIFA world rankings and has successfully secured its fourth consecutive qualification for the World Cup finals. As part of its preparations for the tournament, the Iranian Football Federation has planned a training camp in Arizona, USA, at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, to ensure the team's readiness for the anticipated competitions in North American stadiums.

Q&A

What was the Iran national team's response to Donald Trump's World Cup remarks?

The Iran national team responded to Donald Trump's statements questioning their safety at the World Cup, asserting that FIFA is the sole authority for the event. They emphasized that no entity can exclude them, and suggested a host's inability to provide security could impact their status.

How did the Iranian team's statement address FIFA's role in the World Cup?

The Iranian team's statement clarified that FIFA, not any individual or country, is the governing body for the World Cup, emphasizing its international and historic nature. They implied that a host failing to provide security could jeopardize their co-host status for the tournament.

What are the Iran national team's plans for the upcoming World Cup in the US?

The Iran national team is scheduled to play three group stage matches within US territory, facing New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. As part of their preparations, the Iranian Football Federation has planned a training camp in Arizona to ensure readiness for the competitions.