Getty Images Sport | Mohamed Saeed
'I really don't care' - Donald Trump offers dismissive view of Iran's World Cup hopes as FIFA meeting takes place without country
The build-up to the 2026 World Cup has been hit by a major geopolitical storm as United States president Donald Trump admitted he is indifferent to whether Iran participates in the upcoming tournament.
Despite being the first nation to secure qualification, Iran was the notable absentee from a high-profile FIFA planning meeting in Atlanta this week. The silence has sparked intense speculation regarding their involvement in the tournament, set to be hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Military conflict casts shadow over Los Angeles fixtures
The sporting world is now grappling with the reality of a tournament host being in active military conflict with a qualified participant. Iran is currently slated to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before moving to Seattle to take on Egypt. However, those fixtures are now in serious jeopardy after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes inside Iranian territory prompted a stern response from football officials in Tehran.
There is even the prospect of a knockout-stage clash between the U.S. and Iran in Dallas on July 3, a match that would now carry unprecedented political weight.
The Iranian football hierarchy has expressed grave doubts about their ability to focus on the sport while the nation is under fire. Following the recent strikes, the head of the country's football federation suggested that the mood for a sporting celebration has evaporated.
"What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope," Iranian soccer federation President Mehdi Taj told the Iranian sports outlet Varzesh3.
Trump dismisses Iran's World Cup participation
Speaking on Tuesday morning, Trump was blunt when questioned about the possibility of Iran pulling out amid escalating tensions.
"I really don't care [if Iran participates]," he told POLITICO. "I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They're running on fumes."
Visa issues and travel bans create logistical nightmare
Beyond immediate military concerns, the administrative path for Iran to reach the United States is fraught with obstacles. A restrictive travel ban remains in place, and while athletes are theoretically exempt, securing documentation for support staff remains a major point of contention.
The White House FIFA World Cup Task Force, led by Andrew Giuliani, has maintained that security remains the absolute priority regardless of sporting consequences.
"We want this to be a safe and secure World Cup," Giuliani said in January. "But it'd be foolish, in understanding what Iran is going through right now, to expect that we would just open our borders."
FIFA remains silent as Atlanta workshops conclude
FIFA has so far refused to comment, sticking to its traditional stance of attempting to separate world politics from the pitch. However, the absence of Iranian delegates from the Atlanta workshops, which covered essential topics such as team medicine and match organisation, suggests a significant breakdown in communication.
While other federations finalised their logistics, the empty chairs in the Iranian section served as a stark reminder of the hurdles facing tournament organisers just months before the opening whistle.
Giuliani doubled down on the President's position on Tuesday, highlighting broader security implications: "President Trump's decisive action... removes a major destabilizing threat and will help protect people around the world, including the millions planning to attend the 2026 World Cup."