THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

U.S. President Trump: Iran should skip World Cup 'for their safety' - ESPN U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the Iran national soccer team is "welcome" to compete at theFIFA World Cupin the United States, but advised the team not to participate for "their own life and safety." Trump wrote on the social media site Truth Social: "The Iran 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! President DONALD J. TRUMP." Later on Thursday, the Iranian teamresponded on social mediato Trump's post saying that no individual could exclude a country from the World Cup and suggested the U.S. was unable to provide the necessary security for teams participating in the tournament this summer. "The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA -- not any individual country. Iran's national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament," the statement said. "Certainly no one can exclude Iran's national tea…

Iran's sports minister says the country can't take part in the World Cup Iran’s sports minister said Wednesday that the country cannot participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid war with the U.S and Israel. A plume of smoke rises after a strike in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohsen Ganji, File) FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during a Board of Peace meeting at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) President Donald Trump is presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center, Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, file) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s sports and youth minister said it’s “not possible” for the country to take part in theWorld Cupafter the United States killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in itsongoing war. Iran was expected to take part in the World Cup that will be held across North America in June, but Iranian Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali told state television that his country’s soccer team players are not safe in the U.S., according to a …

Trump encourages Iran to skip 2026 World Cup over 'life and safety' WORLD CUP Men's World Cup Add Topic Trump says Iran should avoid World Cup 'for their own life and safety' Seth Vertelney USA TODAY March 12, 2026, 12:54 p.m. ET Hear this story U.S. President Donald Trump has encouraged Iran to skip the 2026 World Cup, saying that team members and staff may have their "life and safety" at risk if they travel to the United States. Iran's status for the World Cup has been in major doubt since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran starting on Feb. 28. The military campaign killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of top officials. Iran has responded with attacks on several U.S. military facilities and other targets around the Middle East. On Wednesday, March 11, Iran's sports minister Ahmad Donyamali declared that the team would not participate in the tournament – though it hasn't officially withdrawn yet. Donyamali's comments came after FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Trump told him that Iran would be "welcome" at the World Cup despite the ongoing conflict. But in a mixed message delivered via Truth Social on Thursday, March 12, Trump reiterated I…

What happens if Iran does not play at the World Cup? - The Athletic World Cup 2026 Iran's World Cup participation could be in doubtKevin Dietsch / Getty Images A version of this article was first published on March 2. It has been updated after Iran’s sports minister suggested the country might boycott the tournament and after U.S. President Donald Trump said itwouldn’t be “appropriate” for Iran to participate. It has been updated again following confirmation of Iraq becoming the 48th and final qualified team. Advertisement Following the conclusion of the final qualification playoffs, we now know the 48 teams who will play at the 2026 World Cup in North America. Or do we? Questions have continued to swirl around Iran’s participation ever sinceUnited States and Israeli military strikes on the Persian country began in February. Theongoing assaulthaskilled Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,plus more than 1,000 civilians, according to local authorities. The attacks have triggered a widening conflict in the Middle East, which, in the immediate term,disrupted neighboring Iraq’s preparationsfortheir World Cup qualifying playoff in March. But the broader questions concern…

Trump Issues Warning To Iran's National Soccer Team - HuffPost LOADING ERROR LOADING President Donald Trump extended a somewhat two-faced invitation to Iran’s national soccer team on Thursday to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Trump said the team is welcome to join the tournament, but he seemed to caution against doing so, nearly two weeks after the United States and Israel attacked Iran. Advertisement “The Iran 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,” Trump wrote in a social media post. “Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.” Trump’s comments came just a day after Iran’s sports minister said the team would be barred from participating in the tournament due to the ongoing war and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” the minister told state television on Wednesday, according to Reuters . Advertisement The team has participated in six World Cups, most recently in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar…

Iran cannot compete at World Cup, Iranian sports minister says - ESPN Iran's sports and youth minister said it's "not possible" for the country to take part in the World Cup after the United States killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in its ongoing war. Iranwas expected to take part in the World Cup that will be held across North America in June, but Iranian Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali told state television that his country's soccer team players are not safe in the U.S., according to a video of the interview posted Tuesday. "Due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran -- they have imposed two wars on us over just eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people -- definitely it's not possible for us to take part in the World Cup," he said. -Is Iran in or out of World Cup 2026? Iraq's playoff status?-President Trump says Iran 'welcome' at World Cup, says Infantino-Iraq coach Arnold asks FIFA to reschedule its WC playoff Iran is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 andBelgiumon June 21 before finishing group play againstEgyptin Seattle on June 26. The U.S. is hosting the tournament…

Iran will not take part in FIFA 2026 World Cup co-hosted by US, says ... March 11, 2026 at 5:36 pm Players of Iran celebrate after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A game between Iran and Uzbekistan at Azadi Stadium on March 25, 2025 in Tehran, Iran. [Fatemeh Bahrami – Anadolu Agency] Iran will not take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the co-host US carried out airstrikes on the country that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s sports minister said on Wednesday,Anadolu reports. “Considering that this corrupt regime has come and assassinated our leader, we are not in a position to participate in the World Cup,” Ahmad Donyamali told state TV. “A hostile country is hosting the World Cup, and we expect FIFA to respond to this issue,” he added, arguing that the Iranian team members are “not safe.” READ:US says 5,500 targets hit in Iran as operation continues The World Cup will be jointly hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico in June and July. Earlier in the day, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino wrote on social media that he met US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, who said Iran’s national team is welcome to compete in the tournament. The US…

Iran says country can't take part in FIFA World Cup 2026 because of U.S. attacks Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said “I really don't care” if Iran takes part in the 48-nation tournament

Trump tells Iran team to skip FIFA World Cup for 'their own life and safety' Iranian athletes and ​coaches are exempt from the travel ban Mr. Trump imposed against their country last June