US EditionHow Trump's Iran stance puts FIFA World Cup in 'uncharted territory'
- With the FIFA World Cup kicking off in two months, uncertainty surrounds Iran's participation amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. FIFA President Gianni Infantino insisted, "We want them to play; they are going to play in the World Cup."
- Last month, Iran's sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said "under no circumstances" could the men's national team play. This marks the first time a participating nation would be at war with a host country.
- President Donald Trump said it would not be "appropriate" for Iran to attend "for their own life and safety." The White House World Cup task force plans spending over $1 billion on security, including "counter-unmanned aircraft systems."
- If Iran withdraws, FIFA regulations grant "sole discretion" to "take whatever action is deemed necessary." Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, said the administration is facilitating entry logistics for Iran's planned training camp.
- There is little precedent for such a withdrawal; the closest parallel is Yugoslavia's removal from the European Championship just 10 days before it started. FIFA will monitor the situation until the FIFA Congress on April 30 in Vancouver.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Rumors of non-participation are over... Trump and FIFA are coming to Iran; they will eventually go to the CONCACAF World Cup. OSEN = Reporter Lee In-hwan. The rumors of non-participation ultimately did not become a reality. The possibility of the Iranian national football team participating in the 2026 FIFA CONCACAF World Cup finals, which had been shrouded in uncertainty until the very end amidst the worsening situation in the Middle East, has …
The ceasefire is fragile, but the Americans expect the Iranians to participate in the world's biggest football tournament.
Trump administration expects Iranian team to travel to U.S. for World Cup
The Trump administration expects Iran’s soccer team to travel to the United States for the upcoming World Cup, a senior administration official told POLITICO on Thursday. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA World Cup task force, said in an interview at the White House that U.S. officials are planning for Iran to participate despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and the absence of a broader diplomatic breakthrough between …
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