In a surprising turn of events that has captured the attention of football fans worldwide, President Donald Trump has given the green light for Iran to compete in this summer's World Cup on American soil. "Let them play," Trump stated, effectively ending weeks of speculation about Iran's participation.
The uncertainty began after US and Israeli air strikes against Iran on February 28 cast doubt on whether the team would be allowed to enter the United States for the tournament. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had been adamant from the start that Iran would compete as scheduled, with all three group matches set to take place in the US.
Infantino reaffirmed this position at FIFA's Congress on Thursday, and when asked about it later that day, Trump deferred to the FIFA chief. "Well if Gianni said it, I'm OK," Trump responded, before adding with a grin: "Did Gianni say it? Gianni Infantino – that's a piece of work."
When pressed about what would happen if Iran managed to win the tournament, Trump took a more cautious approach. "If they win we'll have to worry about that. I'm going to have to worry about that one," he said. "You know what, let them play. Gianni is fantastic, he's a friend of mine, he talked about it, I said, 'you do whatever you want'. You can have them, you don't have to have them, they probably have a good team. Do they have a good team, do you have any idea?"
The reporter who posed the question admitted he had no idea about Iran's squad strength, to which Trump replied: "It would be hard to believe actually. But let them play, right?"
This marks a notable shift from Trump's earlier stance, when he had suggested it would be "inappropriate" for Iran to play "for their own life and safety." The change of heart comes as Iran prepares to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 to kick off their campaign.
Interestingly, Iran was the only one of FIFA's 211 member nations not represented by federation officials in Vancouver, adding another layer of intrigue to their World Cup journey. If both teams finish second in their respective groups, Iran would face the host nation US in the round of 32 in Dallas – a matchup that would undoubtedly carry enormous political and sporting significance.
Infantino, for his part, used his president's address at the Congress in Vancouver to emphasize the unifying power of sport. "Let me start at the outset by confirming straight away, for those who maybe want to say something else or write something else, that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026," he declared. "And of course, Iran will play in the United States of America. The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together."
As the world's greatest football tournament approaches, this development serves as a reminder that sport often transcends political boundaries – and that on the pitch, what matters most is the beautiful game itself.