US EditionTrump Told FIFA Iran Is Welcome to Play in World Cup in U.S., Officials Say
Trump assured FIFA Iran's team is welcome despite war and defections; Iran's group games are scheduled in US cities Los Angeles and Seattle, FIFA said.
- With under three months before the 2026 World Cup, Gianni Infantino faces political strain with President Donald Trump amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, analysts say.
- After presenting a FIFA 'Peace Prize,' Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, cultivated a public friendship with Donald Trump through White House visits and trips to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
- Critics argue 'What matters to Infantino is his own geopolitics, guided by economic benefit', said Raphael Le Magoariec, 'For FIFA, it is better to preserve its relationship with Donald Trump, even if it means sacrificing Iran'.
- Analysts warn the regional spillover threatens long-term sporting projects developed over two decades, while Qatar hosted 2022 and Saudi Arabia will host 2034 complicate FIFA's political and commercial calculations.
- With a year remaining in his mandate, Infantino is not taking a wild gamble by aligning with Trump, despite FIFA forecasting US$11 billion for the 2023 to 2026 cycle.
189 Articles
189 Articles
The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, already raised the hypothesis of a boycott of the competition.
FIFA president says Trump assured him Iran can come to US for World Cup
The head of FIFA says he anticipates the Iranian men’s national team will be able to compete in this summer’s World Cup, including in matches slated to take place in the United States, despite an ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran. In a social media post on Tuesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he had…
Lausanne, Switzerland. FIFA head Gianni Infantino said this Wednesday that US President Donald Trump promised him during a conversation on Tuesday night that he will unfetteredly host the Iranian team at the 2026 World Cup to be held in North America. “During our conversation, President Trump has reiterated that the Iranian team is certainly welcome to play the tournament in the United States,” co-organiser with Mexico and Canada, wrote the Ital…
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