Trump says Iran footballers should not attend World Cup for their own safety
"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," US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday.
Iran's sports minister said on Wednesday Team Melli will not participate in the 2026 World Cup after co-host the United States launched airstrikes alongside Israel that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered a wider regional conflict.
“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist,” the minister said.
