President Donald Trump has confirmed that the Iranian national team is “welcome” to compete in this summer’s World Cup, despite the United States and Iran being at war.
Following a Tuesday meeting with Trump, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the decision on Instagram, stating the President reiterated Iran’s invitation to the tournament, which begins June 11.
“We need an event like the World Cup to bring people together now more than ever,” Infantino said.
The announcement comes amid a violent military escalation. Following U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israel and four Gulf Arab nations.
While Trump previously told Politico he “didn’t care” if Iran played, this formal assurance provides a path for the team to travel to the U.S. for matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
However, the mood remains bleak; Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj admitted it is “hard to look at the World Cup with hope” given the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian impact is already hitting the sport, with Australia granting six humanitarian visas to members of Iran’s women’s team this week over safety concerns.
