Iran still set to play in World Cup after Trump’s threats against players’ lives
Iranian fans / IMAGO/Richard Wareham / IMAGO/Richard Wareham
Iran’s men’s national soccer team still plans to play in the upcoming World Cup in North America despite the potential danger, Asian soccer officials said Monday.
President Donald Trump warned the national team on Thursday that the “lives and safety” of players could be at risk if they participate in this summer’s championship, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The war, sparked by US-Israeli strikes on February 28, has raised doubts about Iran’s involvement.
“As far as we know, Iran will play,” said Asian Football Confederation general secretary Windsor Paul John.
“We are monitoring the situation whether they will play or not, but for now they will play. There is no official information that they will not play,” WP John told a press conference at the confederation’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
He stressed that the confederation wanted Iran, a “top-level team”, to play in the world tournament.
“So we hope they will solve their problems (…) and be able to participate in the World Cup,” he said.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the Iranian team was welcome, “but I really don’t think it’s appropriate for them to be there, for their own lives and for their own safety.”
Meanwhile, the captain of Iran’s women’s soccer team, which played in the Asian Cup in Australia, withdrew her asylum request on Sunday.
Seven members of Iran’s soccer delegation for the Women’s Asian Cup have sought asylum in Australia after being branded “traitors” in their homeland for refusing to sing the national anthem.
With the captain withdrawing her asylum claim, only two of them will reportedly remain in Australia.
A former player and a Persian-language television channel operating outside Iran said the players were pressured to change their position by threatening their families.
Iranian officials have accused Australia of pressuring the players to stay.
Players returning to Iran await their onward journey at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
Asked about the women’s immediate future, WP John said the confederation was waiting to hear from the team “when they want to leave”.
“It is their decision and we will support it,” he said.
