US President Donald Trump has stated that he is unconcerned about the possibility of Iran withdrawing from the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking in an interview with Politico, Trump dismissed concerns over Iran’s participation, saying: “I really don’t care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”
The remarks come as Israel and the United States have launched a series of strikes on Iran in recent days, prompting retaliatory attacks targeting US-allied Gulf states.
The United States is set to co-host the 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico. Iran has already secured qualification for its fourth consecutive World Cup appearance but may consider a boycott due to the escalating conflict.
If Iran withdraws, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates are seen as potential replacements. Iraq could qualify by winning an intercontinental play-off against either Bolivia or Suriname on March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico. Should Iraq advance, the UAE would likely step in as the next highest-ranked Asian team. If Iraq loses, they could still be next in line should Iran pull out.
The president of the Iranian Football Association, Mehdi Taj, recently expressed uncertainty about the country’s participation, saying expectations of competing at the World Cup remain low. He noted that the final decision would rest with Iran’s sports authorities.
Meanwhile, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom confirmed that the situation has been discussed internally. “We had a meeting... and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world,” he said, adding that FIFA’s priority is ensuring a safe tournament with full participation.
Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before concluding their group stage campaign against Egypt in Seattle.
Trump is expected to play a prominent role during the tournament, similar to his involvement at the Club World Cup last year, and previously appeared at the official draw in Washington, DC, where he was presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize medal.
0 Comments