President Donald Trump set off a global uproar when he told Iran's national football team to pull out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, claiming they'd be safer staying home.
On Thursday, March 12, 2026, he jumped on Truth Social and said that, sure, FIFA's rules technically let Iran compete, but with the U.S. and Iran locked in a military conflict, he called their participation "inappropriate." His warning came right after Tehran announced they're boycotting the tournament, following the recent U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
“Life and Safety”: Trump's Conflicting Message to Tehran
Gianni Infantino, FIFA's president, once said the White House promised every team would be safe. But now President Trump has changed his tune. He's pointing to the tension in West Asia and saying that, with war going on, it's just not right for Iran to come. According to him, it's "inappropriate" for the Iranian delegation to travel to the U.S. right now.
“The Iranian 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” - Donald J. Trump, via Truth Social.
Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali already made it clear on Wednesday that there's no way they'll take part after their leader was assassinated. Then Trump jumped in with his own "recommendation," turning up the heat and making it look like Iran pulling out is about safety, not just politics. Iran was supposed to play its group stage games in Los Angeles and Seattle.
The Gold Standard: US Set to Host “Safest and Biggest” World Cup
While warning Iran, Trump also tried to calm the anxieties of the rest of the world by saying that the United States will make the upcoming sports event the safest ever in history. In order to justify this statement, the government painted the competition, which will be held at the same time as the U. S. 250th Anniversary, as a “whole-of-government” effort utilising more federal resources than ever before.
- The U.S. government's ready to pour more than $1 billion into federal safety efforts, including a $625 million grant just for the 11 American host cities to boost stadium security.
- Fans and players from the other 47 nations will get VIP treatment, calling them "STARS." The FBI, DHS, and Secret Service are all teaming up to make sure security is solid across the board.
- In the New York-New Jersey area alone, the expected amount is $3.3 billion in economic activity. No surprise why the U.S. is putting the World Cup on par with a Presidential Inauguration, officially labelling it a National Special Security Event.