This is the first time FIFA has spoken out about the situation amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino claimed on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump has said that Iran is welcome at the World Cup despite the Middle East tensions. The Middle East is currently in the throes of war after the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28. This has made Iran's participation in the World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, uncertain.
Infantino wrote on Instagram about the meeting regarding the preparations for the tournament, "We also discussed the situation in Iran during our discussions. In the meantime, President Trump said that Iran is welcome to participate in the World Cup to be held in the United States." This is the first time that FIFA has spoken about the situation amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
FIFA established the Peace Prize last December and awarded it to President Trump for the first time. Although Infantino wanted to send a positive message about Iran's participation, the political events of the past week have not given any indication of that. President Trump told the media, “I don’t care if Iran plays or not.”
President Trump and FIFA President Infantino have recently developed a close relationship. During this time, he also attended the inauguration ceremony for the start of President Trump’s second term. Meanwhile, the head of the Iranian Football Federation expressed uncertainty about his team’s participation in the World Cup on Tuesday.
This situation has arisen after some Iranian players decided not to return to their country at the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia. More than half a dozen female players have sought asylum. President Mehdi Taj told Iranian state television, “If this is the case, no country will be willing to send their team out.”
Two of Iran’s three group stage matches are in Los Angeles and one will be in Seattle. If Iran does not participate in the next World Cup, it will be the first time since France and India withdrew from the tournament in Brazil in 1950.
