‘No One Can Exclude Us’: Iran Fires Back at Trump Over World Cup Warning

Iran has pushed back against comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting the country’s national team might face safety risks if it participates in the FIFA World Cup.

In a statement posted on social media Thursday, Iran’s team said participation in the global football tournament is determined by FIFA and not by any particular government.

Trump had earlier told FIFA president Gianni Infantino that Iranian players would be welcomed despite the ongoing Middle East war.

But in a later message on his Truth Social platform, the US leader raised concerns about the team’s safety.

“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,” Trump said.

Iran’s national team rejected the idea that it could be excluded from the competition.

“The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA — not any individual, country.

“Iran’s national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament.

“Certainly no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup; the only country that can be excluded is one that merely carries the title of ‘host’ yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event.”

The controversy follows a war sparked by US-Israeli strikes on February 28, which has cast doubt on Iran’s participation in the tournament to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Trump later posted again on Truth Social to stress that the competition would be safe for players and fans.

“The United States of America looks very much forward to hosting the FIFA World Cup,” he said. “Ticket sales are ‘through the roof!’”

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