Donald Trump Reacts as FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play at 2026 World Cup

FIFA has officially confirmed that Iran will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, just 42 days before the tournament begins.The decision ends weeks of uncertainty following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in February.

Earlier this week, Iran’s delegation was denied entry at Vancouver Airport ahead of a FIFA Congress meeting in Canada, raising doubts about their participation. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino firmly put those doubts to rest.“Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino stated. “And of course, Iran will play in the United States of America. We have to unite. We have to bring people together.”


Trump’s Response

President Donald Trump, who had previously called Iran’s participation “inappropriate” for safety reasons, appeared to soften his stance after Infantino’s announcement.

When asked about the decision, Trump replied:

• “Well if Gianni said it, I’m OK. Gianni Infantino — that’s a piece of work. ... You know what, let them play. Gianni is fantastic, he’s a friend of mine. I said, ‘you do whatever you want.

• ’”Trump added light-heartedly: “They probably have a good team. Do they have a good team? ... It would be hard to believe actually. But let them play, right?”

Iran is scheduled to open their campaign on June 15 against New Zealand.


Ticket Price Controversy

The confirmation of Iran’s participation comes amid heavy criticism of FIFA’s ticketing strategy. The organization has adopted dynamic pricing, leading to significantly higher ticket costs. Infantino defended the approach, noting over 500 million ticket requests — ten times more than recent World Cups — and emphasized that affordable tickets remain available while revenue is reinvested into global football development. 



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