Former US president Donald Trump has attempted to reassure players and fans about security at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, hours after suggesting Iran’s national team should not compete due to safety concerns.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said the United States was preparing to host the tournament and promised a secure environment for everyone involved.
“The United States of America looks very much forward to hosting the FIFA World Cup. Ticket sales are ‘through the roof!’ It will be the Greatest and Safest Sporting Event in American History. All Players, Officials, and Fans will be treated like the ‘STARS’ that they are!” he wrote.
His comments came shortly after raising doubts about whether Iran National Football Team should be present at the tournament, citing concerns about the safety of players and officials.
Trump’s World Cup Safety Assurances For Players And Fans
Trump’s remarks appeared aimed at calming fears surrounding security at the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The tournament is scheduled to begin in June, with matches set to take place across the three host nations.
However, it remains unclear whether Trump’s reference to “all players” includes Iran’s squad, given his earlier comments questioning their participation.
So far, FIFA has not issued a statement on the matter and has not confirmed whether it has contacted Iranian football authorities about the possibility of withdrawing from the competition.
Iran Responds To World Cup Participation Questions
Earlier on Thursday, Trump posted: “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.”
Although Iranian officials have previously raised the possibility of skipping the tournament, no formal boycott has been announced.
A statement shared on the national team’s Instagram account later that evening pushed back against suggestions they could be excluded.
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“No one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup; the only country that could 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.”
Iran are scheduled to play their group-stage matches in the United States, despite the competition being co-hosted by Canada and Mexico.
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