Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly voiced his support for Iran's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held on American soil, by saying simply, "Let them play." The comment came after FIFA president Gianni Infantino repeatedly assured that Iran would be allowed to compete in the tournament despite recent geopolitical tensions.
The backdrop to this assurance is the series of air strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets on February 28, an action that has left the future of Iran's involvement in the upcoming World Cup uncertain. Infantino, speaking at FIFA's congress in Vancouver, stressed that the tournament's schedule would remain unchanged and that all three of Iran's group‑stage matches would take place in the United States as planned. During a Thursday press briefing, a reporter asked Trump to weigh in on Infantino's remarks.
Trump replied, "Well if Gianni said it, I'm OK. Did Gianni say it? Gianni Infantino – that's a piece of work." When pressed about the scenario in which Iran might actually win a match, the former president quipped, "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.'" Trump 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 journalist admitted he did not know, to which Trump responded, "It would be hard to believe actually.
But let them play, right?" He also noted that Iran could potentially meet the United States in the round of 32 in Dallas if both sides finish second in their respective groups. Previously, Trump had characterized the idea of Iran playing in the United States as "inappropriate" because of concerns for the safety of Iranian players and officials. Yet his latest remarks suggest a more relaxed stance, aligning with Infantino's message that sport should rise above politics.
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 added that Iran's campaign will begin against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
The Iranian delegation was notably the only one of FIFA's 211 member associations not represented by federation officials at the Vancouver meeting. The congress also highlighted tensions between the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) and the Israeli Football Association (IFA).
PFA president Jibril Rajoub refused to stand beside IFA vice‑president Basim Sheikh Suliman when Infantino called both men to the podium. Infantino attempted to encourage a handshake, placing his hand on Rajoub's arm, 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." She criticized Infantino's gesture as tone‑deaf, noting that Rajoub had just spent fifteen minutes urging the football community not to allow Israeli clubs to operate in West Bank settlements, which Palestinians view as illegal under international law. The dispute reflects a broader legal battle: the PFA recently appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over FIFA's decision not to sanction Israel for allowing clubs based in West Bank settlements to compete in Israeli leagues.
FIFA has so far declined to act, citing the unresolved legal status of the territories. As the congress drew to a close, Infantino announced his intention to run for a third full four‑year term as FIFA president at the 2027 meeting in Morocco. Under the current rules, only complete terms count toward the three‑term limit, meaning Infantino could potentially remain in office until 2031, overseeing the centennial 2030 World Cup that will be co‑hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. This would place his total tenure at fifteen years, just two years shy of the record held by former president Sepp Blatter.
Infantino's electoral history has been unusually smooth. He was first elected in 2016, then re‑elected by acclamation in 2019 after the candidate field narrowed to a single name, and again in 2023 without a vote. His popularity among federations outside Europe has turned the voting process into a formality.
During his closing remarks, Infantino highlighted several financial achievements of FIFA under his leadership. He cited a development fund of $2.7 billion (£2 billion) earmarked for the 2027‑2030 cycle—an eight‑fold increase compared with the pre‑Infantino era. He also projected that revenue for the 2022‑2026 cycle would exceed $14 billion (£10.3 billion), largely driven by ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup. Ticketing has been a contentious issue, with critics accusing FIFA of price gouging and of employing a dynamic pricing model.
Infantino defended the approach, noting that 500 million ticket requests have been received for the upcoming tournament, compared with 50 million across the last two World Cups combined. He claimed that FIFA has sold 100 percent of the inventory it has released, which represents roughly 90 percent of the global ticket pool, and that both premium and affordable options are available. He emphasized that all revenue generated is reinvested into the sport through the FIFA Forward programme, which provides grants and development assistance to member associations worldwide.
"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. The congress also featured a promotional segment encouraging fans to enter the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, underscoring FIFA's ongoing efforts to engage audiences beyond the pitch. In summary, Trump's brief endorsement of Iran's participation, Infantino's steadfast assurance of inclusion, and the ongoing diplomatic frictions between Palestinian and Israeli football officials illustrate the complex interplay of sport, politics, and commerce that will shape the 2026 World Cup. As the tournament approaches, the world will watch not only the matches on the field but also how football's governing bodies navigate the geopolitical challenges that accompany the beautiful game.