Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly voiced his support for Iran's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be staged partially on American soil this summer.
When asked about FIFA president Gianni Infantino's repeated assurances that the Iranian national team would be allowed to compete, Trump replied succinctly, "Let them play," adding that he trusted Infantino's word. The issue of Iran's involvement has been fraught with tension ever since the United States and Israel carried out air strikes against Iranian targets on February 28, an operation that heightened diplomatic strains and raised doubts about whether the Iranian side would be permitted to travel to the United States for the tournament. Despite those concerns, Infantino has consistently maintained that all three of Iran's group‑stage matches will go ahead as scheduled, a stance he reiterated during FIFA's congress in Vancouver on Thursday.
During a press briefing later that day, Trump was asked to comment on Infantino's statements. He responded, "Well, if Gianni said it, I'm OK. Did Gianni say it?
Gianni Infantino — that's a piece of work." When pressed about the hypothetical scenario of Iran advancing far enough to win the competition, Trump 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.'" The former president went on to question the quality of the Iranian squad, asking the reporter, "Do they have a good team? Do you have any idea?" The reporter admitted he did not, to which Trump replied, "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. Trump's earlier remarks on the matter had been more cautious, describing it as "inappropriate" for Iran to compete given concerns for the safety of players and officials. However, his tone softened after Infantino's emphatic address at the congress, where the FIFA chief said, "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." According to the official schedule, Iran will open its campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
Notably, Iran was the only one of FIFA's 211 member associations whose federation officials were absent from the Vancouver meeting, a fact that underscored the geopolitical sensitivities surrounding the tournament. The congress also highlighted another flashpoint: the strained relationship between the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) and the Israel Football Association (IFA). PFA president Jibril Rajoub refused to stand beside IFA vice‑president Basim Sheikh Suliman when Infantino called them to the podium.
Infantino attempted to bridge the divide by placing his hand on Rajoub's arm and inviting him to approach Suliman, but Rajoub declined. Palestinian FA vice‑president Susan Shalabi, who was present, explained to Reuters, "I cannot shake the hand of someone the Israelis have brought to whitewash their fascism and genocide! We are suffering." Israel, for its part, denies accusations of genocide in Gaza. Infantino later intervened, urging both officials to collaborate: "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 the gesture as tone‑deaf, arguing that it undermined Rajoub's earlier speech in which he warned against Israeli clubs operating in West Bank settlements. She said, "To be put in a position where a handshake follows 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." Last week, the PFA 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 its leagues.
The Palestinian side argues that such clubs should be barred because the settlements lie in territory Palestinians envision for a future state. FIFA defended its stance by citing the unresolved legal status of the West Bank under international law. Looking ahead, FIFA members will vote for the next president at the 2027 congress. Infantino, who announced his intention to run for re‑election, is widely expected to secure a third full four‑year term—a formality given his popularity among non‑European federations.
If re‑elected, he would remain at the helm until 2031, overseeing the centenary 2030 World Cup scheduled to be co‑hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. By the end of that term, Infantino would have served roughly 15 years, just two years shy of the tenure of his predecessor Sepp Blatter. Infantino first won the FIFA presidency in 2016 and was originally slated to step down after three full terms. However, rule changes now count only complete terms toward the limit, effectively resetting the clock and allowing him to seek another term.
He was re‑elected unopposed in 2019 and again in 2023, with no formal vote required each time because he faced no challengers. During his closing remarks at the Vancouver congress, Infantino highlighted several achievements under his leadership. He pointed to a $2.7 billion development fund earmarked for the 2027‑2030 cycle—an eight‑fold increase from the previous period—and projected that revenue for the current 2022‑2026 cycle would exceed $14 billion, driven largely by ticket sales for this summer's World Cup.
While FIFA has faced criticism over ticket pricing and the adoption of dynamic pricing, Infantino defended the approach, noting that 500 million ticket requests have been received, far surpassing the 50 million requests across the last two tournaments combined. He claimed that 100 percent of the inventory put on the market has been sold, representing roughly 90 percent of the global ticket pool, and emphasized that both premium and affordable options are available. Infantino also stressed that all revenue generated is reinvested into the sport, supporting member associations, funding new competitions, and sustaining the FIFA Forward development programme.
He said, "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." Overall, the 2026 World Cup promises to be a landmark event, not only for its sporting significance but also for the diplomatic and political narratives it will inevitably surface. From Trump's casual endorsement of Iran's participation to the contentious interactions between Palestinian and Israeli football officials, the tournament will serve as a global stage where sport and geopolitics intersect once again.