Former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the idea of Iran taking part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted on U.S. soil, by simply stating, "Let them play." His brief remark came amid ongoing uncertainty about whether the Iranian national team would be allowed to compete after a series of geopolitical tensions, including U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has repeatedly assured fans, officials, and media that Iran will be present at the tournament as originally scheduled.
Infantino reiterated this guarantee during the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, emphasizing that all three of Iran's group‑stage matches will be held in the United States. When journalists later pressed Trump about Infantino's assurances, the former president responded with a casual, "Well if Gianni said it, I'm OK," adding a playful jab: "Did Gianni say it?
Gianni Infantino – that's a piece of work." When asked how the United States would react if Iran were to win the competition, Trump answered, "If they win we'll have to worry about that. I'm going to have to worry about that one. You know what, let them play.
Gianni is fantastic, he's a friend of mine, he talked about it, I said, 'you do whatever you want.'" He continued, "You can have them, you don't have to have them, they probably have a good team. Do they have a good team, do you have any idea?" The reporter admitted he had no clue, prompting Trump to say, "It would be hard to believe actually.
But let them play, right?" Under the current tournament format, Iran could potentially meet the United States in the round of 32 if both sides finish second in their respective groups, a scenario that would add a politically charged match to an already high‑stakes knockout stage. Trump has previously described it as "inappropriate" for Iran to compete, citing concerns for the safety of Iranian players and spectators, but his recent comments suggest a more relaxed stance, at least in public. Infantino opened his address at the Vancouver congress with a clear statement: "Let me start at the outset by confirming straight away, for those who maybe want to say something else or write something else, that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026. And of course, Iran will play in the United States of America.
The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together." He went on to announce that Iran's opening match will be against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. Iran was the only one of FIFA's 211 member associations whose federation officials were absent from the Vancouver gathering, a fact that highlighted the diplomatic strain surrounding the nation's football participation. The tension was also evident in a separate incident involving the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) president Jibril Rajoub.
During a heated moment at the congress, Rajoub refused to stand next to Israel FA vice‑president Basim Sheikh Suliman when Infantino called both men to the stage. Infantino placed his hand on Rajoub's arm and gestured for him to approach Suliman, but Rajoub declined.
Palestinian FA vice‑president Susan Shalabi, who was present, told Reuters, "I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide! We are suffering." Israel has consistently denied allegations of genocide in Gaza, a claim that remains a flashpoint in international discourse.
Infantino attempted to defuse the situation by saying, "We will work together, president Rajoub, vice‑president Suliman. Let's work together to give hope to the children. These are complex matters." Shalabi later criticized Infantino's gesture, arguing that it ignored the substance of Rajoub's speech, which warned against Israeli clubs operating in West Bank settlements. She said, "To be put in a position where a handshake after everything that was said negates the whole purpose of the speech that the general Rajoub was giving.
He spent like 15 minutes trying to explain to everyone how the rules matter, how this could easily become a precedent where the rights of member associations are violated with impudence, and then we'll just wrap this under the carpet. It was absurd." The PFA has recently appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, challenging FIFA's decision not to sanction Israel for allowing clubs based in West Bank settlements to compete in Israeli leagues. The Palestinian side argues that these settlements, located in territory Palestinians envision for a future state, should not be permitted to participate in competitions overseen by the Israel Football Association. FIFA, citing the unresolved legal status of the West Bank under international law, declined to take action last month.
Looking ahead, FIFA member associations will be invited to vote for the organization's next president at the 2027 congress. Infantino concluded the Vancouver meeting by announcing his intention to seek re‑election.
Given his overwhelming support among federations outside Europe, his candidacy is widely viewed as a formality. If re‑elected, Infantino would serve a third full four‑year term, extending his tenure to 2031 and positioning him at the helm for the centenary 2030 World Cup, which will be co‑hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. By the end of that term, he would have presided over FIFA for roughly 15 years—just two years shy of the record held by former president Sepp Blatter. Infantino first won the FIFA presidency in 2016 and was expected to step down after his second term.
However, rule changes now count only full terms toward the three‑term limit, effectively resetting the clock for him. He secured his second term in 2019 by acclamation—no other candidates stood—and was re‑elected again in 2023 under similar circumstances.
While the statutes technically require a vote from all 211 member associations, Infantino's popularity among non‑European federations has rendered the elections largely ceremonial. During his speech, Infantino highlighted several financial achievements of the organization over the past decade. He cited a $2.7 billion development fund earmarked for the 2027‑2030 cycle, representing an eight‑fold increase compared with the budget before his tenure.
He also projected that revenue for the current 2022‑2026 cycle would exceed $14 billion, driven primarily by the 2026 World Cup in North America. The tournament's ticketing strategy, which includes dynamic pricing, has drawn criticism for high costs, but Infantino defended the approach, noting that 500 million ticket requests have been received—ten times the demand of the previous two World Cups combined. He claimed that FIFA has sold 100 percent of the inventory it has placed on the market, which amounts to roughly 90 percent of the global ticket pool, and that both premium and affordable options are available.
Infantino emphasized that all revenue generated by FIFA is reinvested back into the sport, supporting member associations, developing new competitions, and funding the FIFA Forward programme. He asserted, "In a big majority of our countries, we could not have organised football the way we know it without the grants and the revenues and the FIFA Forward programme." In summary, while former President Trump has offered a casual endorsement for Iran's participation, the broader context includes ongoing diplomatic disputes, legal challenges, and the strategic ambitions of FIFA's leadership. The upcoming 2026 World Cup will not only showcase football talent from around the globe but also serve as a stage where geopolitical narratives intersect with sport, highlighting the delicate balance between competition, politics, and the unifying promise that FIFA claims to uphold.