By Kwame Bediako
US President Donald Trump dismissed concerns over Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, bluntly stating he “really doesn’t care” as escalating Middle East conflicts threaten the tournament’s lineup.
Speaking to Politico amid US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets that began on Saturday, February 28, 2026, Trump described Iran as a “very badly defeated country” running “on fumes.”
The remarks came after Iran skipped a key FIFA planning summit in Atlanta this week, the only qualified nation absent, fueling doubts about their team’s ability to compete on US soil.
Iran’s football federation president, Mehdi Taj, warned that the “viciousness” of the attacks bodes ill for the World Cup, set for June 11 to July 19 across the US, Mexico, and Canada.
The Iranians earned their spot last year by topping Group A in Asian qualifiers, marking a fourth straight appearance.
Drawn in Group G with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, their fixtures include two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle, all in the US.
A potential last-32 clash with the hosts looms on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, if both teams advance as group runners-up.
Complicating matters is Trump’s restrictive travel ban on Iran, enacted last June, which exempts World Cup teams and staff but leaves visas for officials, sponsors, and executives to case-by-case State Department decisions.
White House FIFA World Cup Task Force director Andrew Giuliani defended the policy, telling Politico that Trump’s “decisive action to eliminate the Ayatollah” a major terrorism sponsor enhances global security, including for the millions attending the tournament. FIFA has not commented on Iran’s status.
No qualified team has ever withdrawn from a modern World Cup finals, but Iran’s absence could force a replacement.
Security fears and regional war spillover cast a long shadow over what was meant to be a unifying global event, leaving fans and officials bracing for uncertainty.
