U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is unconcerned about whether Iran participates in the 2026 World Cup, as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.
Israel and the United States have carried out a series of airstrikes on Iran over the past five days, prompting retaliatory attacks targeting U.S.-allied Gulf states. The United States is set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
Iran has already secured qualification for its fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, but there is growing speculation that the country could withdraw from the tournament. Asked about the possibility, Trump told Politico: “I really don’t care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”
If Iran chooses not to participate, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates are seen as the most likely replacements. Iraq can secure qualification by winning an intercontinental play-off against either Bolivia or Suriname on March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico.
Should Iraq qualify, the UAE could potentially take Iran’s slot as the next highest-ranked Asian team. If Iraq loses, it may still remain in contention should Iran officially withdraw.
The president of the Iranian Football Association, Mehdi Taj, recently expressed uncertainty about the team’s participation, stating: “It is far from our expectations that we can look at the World Cup with hope.” He added that a final decision would rest with the country’s sports authorities.
Meanwhile, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström confirmed that discussions had taken place regarding the situation but declined to provide details.
“We had a meeting… it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world,” Grafström said. “Our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating.”
Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before concluding its group stage campaign against Egypt in Seattle.
Trump is expected to play a prominent role during the tournament, as he did at last summer’s Club World Cup. He also appeared at the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., last December, where he was presented with a medal and received the inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize.”