United States president Donald Trump says it would not be appropriate for Iran’s squad to be at this summer’s World Cup “for their own life and safety”.
The US military and Israel initiated air strikes on Iran on 28 February, sparking retaliatory action from Iran on Israel and Middle East nations housing US bases such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali appeared to rule out the possibility of the country playing at the finals on Wednesday. Iran are due to play all three group games in the US and could even meet the Americans in the last 32 if both finish second in their group.
Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday: “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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Prior to the Iranian sports minister saying on Wednesday that “the conditions for participation do not exist”, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said he had received assurances from Trump that Iran would be welcome at the tournament.
Fifa is yet to respond to requests for comment regarding Iran’s participation in the finals in the light of Donyamali’s comments on Wednesday, or Trump’s remarks on Thursday.
Iran are due to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
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