Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the idea of Iran taking part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held on American soil this summer.
In a press briefing, Trump summed up his stance with a simple phrase: “Let them play.” The prospect of Iran’s involvement has been clouded by geopolitical tension ever since the United States and Israel carried out air strikes against Iranian targets on February 28. Those attacks raised doubts about whether the Iranian national team would be permitted to travel to the United States for the tournament.
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, has repeatedly assured fans and officials that Iran will be allowed to compete as scheduled. He reiterated his confidence during the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, emphasizing that all three of Iran’s group‑stage matches are slated to take place in the United States.
When journalists later asked Trump to comment on Infantino’s assurances, the former president replied, “Well, if Gianni said it, I’m OK.” He added a chuckle, “Did Gianni say it? Gianni Infantino – that’s a piece of work.” The conversation turned to a hypothetical scenario in which Iran might advance and even win a match.
Trump responded, “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 went on to question Iran’s football quality, asking the reporter, “Do they have a good team? Do you have any idea?” The reporter admitted he did not.
Trump concluded, “It would be hard to believe actually. But let them play, right?” In the tournament bracket, Iran could potentially meet the United States in the round of 32 in Dallas, should both sides finish second in their respective groups.
Trump has previously described the notion of Iran playing on U.S. soil as “inappropriate” for reasons of safety and political risk, but his remarks at the briefing suggested a more relaxed attitude. Infantino opened his address to the congress by stating unequivocally, “Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and 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 noted that Iran’s campaign will begin with a match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. Iran was the only member of FIFA’s 211 national associations whose federation officials were absent from the Vancouver gathering.
The event also featured a tense moment involving the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) president Jibril Rajoub and the Israeli FA vice‑president Basim Sheikh Suliman. Infantino called both men to the stage, attempting to foster a handshake, but Rajoub declined to come closer to Suliman. Infantino placed a hand on Rajoub’s arm and gestured for him to approach, but the Palestinian chief refused. When asked about Rajoub’s refusal, 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.” She added that Israel has denied any genocide in Gaza. Infantino later tried to smooth over the incident, 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 criticized Infantino’s attempt as tone‑deaf, arguing that forcing a handshake after Rajoub’s impassioned speech undermined the message about the rights of Palestinian clubs.
She explained that the PFA had recently appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over FIFA’s decision not to sanction Israel for allowing clubs to operate in West Bank settlements, a practice the Palestinians argue should be prohibited because the settlements lie in territory they claim for a future state. FIFA, for its part, said it would not take action against the Israeli Football Association or the clubs because the legal status of the West Bank remains unresolved under international law. The organization also announced that member associations will be invited to vote for the next FIFA president at the 2027 congress.
Infantino used the closing remarks of the Vancouver meeting to confirm his intention to run for another term. Given the current rules, Infantino’s bid for a third full four‑year term is essentially a formality. If he is re‑elected at the 2027 congress in Morocco, he will remain at the helm until 2031, overseeing the centennial 2030 World Cup that will be co‑hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
By the end of that tenure, Infantino would have served as FIFA president for 15 years—only two years fewer than his predecessor Sepp Blatter. Infantino first won the presidency in 2016, a term that was supposed to be his final one. However, FIFA amended its statutes so that only complete terms count toward the three‑term limit, effectively resetting the clock for him.
He was re‑elected without opposition in 2019 and again in 2023, both times without a formal vote because no other candidates emerged. His popularity among federations outside Europe has turned the election process into a near‑ceremonial endorsement. During his speech, Infantino highlighted several financial milestones achieved under his leadership.
He pointed to a $2.7 billion development fund earmarked for the 2027‑2030 cycle—an eight‑fold increase compared with the budget before he took office. He also projected that the revenue stream for the current 2022‑2026 cycle will exceed $14 billion, driven largely by ticket sales and commercial deals linked to the 2026 World Cup. Ticket pricing has sparked controversy, with critics accusing FIFA of inflating costs through a dynamic pricing model.
Infantino defended the approach, noting that the organization received roughly 500 million ticket requests for this summer’s tournament, a ten‑fold jump from the 50 million requests across the previous two World Cups combined. He claimed that FIFA sold 100 percent of the inventory it released, representing about 90 percent of the global ticket pool, and emphasized that both premium and affordable options are available.
He further explained that all revenue generated is reinvested in the sport, supporting member associations, funding new competitions, and sustaining the FIFA Forward development programme. “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,” he said.
Overall, the episode underscores how sport, politics, and diplomacy continue to intersect on the world stage, with the upcoming World Cup serving as a focal point for both cooperation and conflict. The tournament will not only showcase athletic talent but also test the ability of football’s governing bodies to navigate complex international issues while maintaining the spirit of the beautiful game.