World Cup uncertainty: Trump says he doesn’t care whether Iran competes

World Cup preparations are uncertain as rising geopolitical tensions cast doubt on Iran's participation in the 2026 tournament, with US President Donald Trump saying he "really doesn't care" amid Middle East conflicts and Iranian officials' hesitation to travel.

Iran's group matches in what would be their fourth consecutive World Cup are scheduled against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle.

The country did not withdraw from the competition last summer, despite the US bombing three nuclear facilities in Iran.

However, following the more serious current upheaval, the head of Iran's football federation has reportedly expressed doubts about their participation.

"With what happened... and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the World Cup, but the sports chiefs are the ones who must decide on that," Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reportedly told Iranian television.

In the wake of the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and amid significant uncertainty over the country's political future, predicting such a decision, or even determining who would make it, remains impossible.

"For Tehran, this is not a short 12-day war or a contained round of escalation that can be paused and reset," said Dr Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at international affairs think-tank Chatham House.

"This new stage of conflict is existential and clearly about regime survival. It is also unlikely to end quickly." FIFA, football's world governing body, has stated that it is monitoring developments, but officials privately expect Iran to participate in the World Cup.

On Saturday, FIFA's general secretary Mattias Grafstrom said, "Our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating."

Under FIFA rules, if a team withdraws or is excluded, the organisation can "take whatever action is deemed necessary" and "may decide to replace the participating member association with another association."

BBC Sport has sought clarification from FIFA amid suggestions that Iran could be replaced by another team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Based on this, Iraq, which could qualify via a continental play-off at the end of the month, or the UAE, which missed out on qualification, would be the most likely replacements.

Trump says he 'doesn't care' if Iran takes part in the 2026 World Cup

US President Donald Trump yesterday (3 March) said he "does not care" whether Iran takes part in this summer's 2026 World Cup.

His remarks come amid escalating US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which has retaliated by launching attacks on US-allied states in the Gulf.

The United States is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, scheduled from 11 June to 19 July.

"I really don't care," Trump told Politico about Iran's participation.

"I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They're running on fumes."

'We are in uncharted territory'

Last year, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning nationals from 12 countries, including Iran, from entering the United States, citing security concerns.

Although World Cup players and coaching staff are exempt, Iran threatened to boycott December's draw in Washington after some of its officials' visa applications were rejected.

If Iran does participate, heightened scrutiny on safety is expected around the team's matches and their planned training base in Arizona.

During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Iran's games—including a match against the US—occurred amid mass anti-government protests in the country.

During their second match against Wales, confrontations broke out between fans holding opposing views about the Iranian government.

Given Trump's support for regime change in Iran, a similar scenario could occur this summer, especially in Los Angeles, which hosts one of the largest Iranian communities worldwide.

"We are in uncharted territory in that we are just over three months away from the start of the World Cup and the hosts have just launched a war of aggression against a participating country," said Nick McGeehan of human rights advocacy group FairSquare.

"If Iran withdraws its team—an outcome that seems entirely plausible—FIFA is likely to breathe a sigh of relief given the potential for protest and unrest," he added.

Even if Iran is absent, tensions may remain high, particularly as the tournament coincides with the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, and Trump is expected to be a highly visible presence, as he was at the Club World Cup and Ryder Cup last year.

The conflict began shortly after US officials were warned that failure to fund the 11 US host cities could have "catastrophic" security consequences.

Preparations were reported to be behind schedule amid a partial government shutdown.

Additional concerns include the use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at the tournament and an outbreak of cartel violence in neighboring co-host Mexico.

Relations between the US and co-host Canada have also been strained by Trump's imposition of trade tariffs.

Over the weekend, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup taskforce, praised Trump's strikes on Iran on social media, stating they would "make the world a safe place."

He added, "We'll deal with soccer games tomorrow. Tonight we celebrate [the Iranian people's] opportunity for freedom."

However, the Middle East conflict is likely to increase scrutiny of FIFA president Gianni Infantino due to his close ties with Trump.

FIFA, Trump, and the 'Peace Prize' controversy

In December, FIFA awarded Trump its inaugural "Peace Prize" at the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony, stating he had "played a pivotal role" in establishing a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians and had sought to resolve other conflicts.

Since then, the US has taken military action in Venezuela, Nigeria, and Iran and has indicated possible future operations in Greenland, co-host Mexico, and Colombia.

In January, Trump also warned Cuba to "make a deal" or face consequences.

Trump has defended his foreign policy, insisting it serves US interests. In January, Infantino defended awarding the "Peace Prize", attending the first meeting of the US President's Board of Peace wearing a Trump-themed "USA" cap marked "45-47", referring to his terms in office.

Trump's attack on Iran has received both support and criticism, but it has intensified scrutiny of FIFA's alignment with him, with critics arguing it risks politicizing the organisation.

In January, 27 UK politicians from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and Plaid Cymru signed a motion urging international sports bodies to consider expelling the US from major competitions, including the World Cup, arguing that such events "should not be used to legitimise or normalise violations of international law by powerful states."

The same month, a German Football Association official suggested considering a boycott of the 2026 World Cup in response to Trump's actions.

Similar demands could resurface, and Gulf states may call for Iran to be punished for retaliatory attacks on their territories. FIFA maintains that as an organiser of football events, it must remain neutral.

Infantino stated last year that FIFA "cannot solve geopolitical problems," despite pressure to sanction Israel after a UN commission concluded that the country had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel's foreign ministry rejected the report, calling it "distorted and false."

Some critics argue FIFA rules should be strengthened to respond more effectively to serious geopolitical events.

This is not the first time FIFA has faced pressure over the actions of a World Cup host.

The 2018 tournament proceeded in Russia despite its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and accusations of cyberattacks, election interference, and the Novichok nerve-agent attack in Salisbury.

Russia was eventually banned in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine, after several European countries refused to compete against it.

Infantino recently stated that such punishments have not been effective and suggested lifting Russia's ban and revising FIFA statutes to prevent boycotts.

There is no indication he intends to sanction the US, despite the controversy surrounding its foreign policy.

What is clear is that in the past 48 hours, the already complex political landscape for the World Cup has become even more challenging.