The Asian Football Confederation has confirmed that Iran is still on track to compete at the 2026 World Cup, despite recent controversial comments from US President Donald Trump. AFC general secretary Windsor John made it clear on Monday that nothing has changed.
"They are our member. We want them to play," John told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. "As far as we know, Iran is playing." He added that it's ultimately up to Iran's football federation to decide, and right now, they're saying yes to the World Cup.
The drama started last week when Trump posted on social media that Iran's team was welcome at the tournament. But then he added that he didn't think it was "appropriate" for them to be there for their own "life and safety." Strong words that got everyone talking.
Iran's Team Fires Back
Iran's national team didn't stay quiet. They responded on Instagram, making it crystal clear that "no one can exclude" them from the tournament. They reminded everyone that FIFA runs the World Cup, not Trump or the US government.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei jumped in too. He said FIFA needs to respond to Trump's comments. "When warnings are issued at the highest level about the environment being unsafe for Iranian football players, this indicates that the host country apparently lacks the capacity and ability to provide security," Baghaei said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with Trump last Tuesday at the White House. Afterward, Infantino posted that he received assurances Iran was welcome. But FIFA hasn't made any official statement since the controversy kicked off.
What's at Stake for Iran
Iran is ranked 20th in the world and has qualified for four straight World Cups. They're considered a serious contender to advance from their group. All three of their group stage matches are scheduled in the United States—two in Inglewood, California, and one in Seattle.
They'll face New Zealand on June 16, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt on June 26. For anyone looking at the betting markets, this uncertainty could create some interesting odds shifts. Iran is typically a strong Asian team, but off-field drama like this can affect team preparation and performance.
No team has refused a World Cup spot they earned on the field in the past 75 years. Iran's sports minister did suggest last week that current circumstances made it impossible to play, but the team's own statement contradicted that.
Iranian football officials are expected to attend FIFA's annual congress in Vancouver on April 30. They missed meetings in Atlanta earlier this month that were meant to help teams prepare for the 48-nation tournament. The situation remains fluid, but for now, Iran is in.
