Yemi Obafemi
Iran’s national soccer team has rejected former US President Donald Trump’s warning that their safety could be at risk if they attend this year’s FIFA World Cup, insisting that no nation has the authority to bar them from the tournament.
In a statement posted on social media Thursday, the Iranian team said the World Cup is a historic global event governed by FIFA, not any individual country, and emphasised that Iran qualified early through its on-field achievements.
“Certainly no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup; the only country that can be excluded is one that merely carries the title of ‘host’ yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event,” the statement read.
Trump had issued his warning two days earlier on his Truth Social platform, suggesting that the Iranian players’ “life and safety” could be at risk in the United States, despite telling FIFA chief Gianni Infantino that Iran would be welcome.
“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,” Trump wrote.
The dispute comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on February 28, which have cast uncertainty over Iran’s participation in the summer tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Trump later sought to reassure the public that the event would be secure, posting on Truth Social: “The United States of America looks very much forward to hosting the FIFA World Cup. Ticket sales are ‘through the roof!’”
