Trump changes 'entrance' to Iran's World Cup trip... "Come or not → Welcome → It will be dangerous if you come?"

*This content was translated by AI.

U.S. President Donald Trump (80) is taking a back-and-forth stance on the Iranian national soccer team's participation in the 2026 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup.

On the 12th (local time), U.S. President Trump announced his position on the Iranian national soccer team's participation in the World Cup through his social media Truth Social.

"Iran's national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I don't think it's appropriate to be there given their lives and safety," he wrote.

This came shortly after Iran's new supreme leader, Moztava Khamenei, issued a super-hard message saying "the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz must be maintained." It is interpreted that President Trump expressed his ostensible welcome as a co-host of the World Cup, but actually expressed reluctance by citing safety issues caused by the conflict between the two countries.

The day before, the Iranian government made it official that it was virtually impossible to participate in the World Cup. Iranian Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali told Iranian state television that "it is impossible to participate in the World Cup at a time when the United States assassinated our supreme leader," made clear. "The U.S. has forced us to wage two wars in the past eight to nine months and killed thousands of people," he said, adding that there is no possibility of participating in the World Cup because he cannot guarantee the safety of the players.

The 2026 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iran was in a group with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G. In particular, some of Iran's group matches will be held at stadiums in the United States, including SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, making it extremely difficult for the national team to visit the U.S. if the military conflict is prolonged.

Meanwhile, President Trump frequently issued mixed messages about whether the Iranian national team will participate in the World Cup. In an interview earlier this month, he said he "doesn't care" even if Iran is absent, but later changed his position to "welcome" in a conversation with FIFA President Zanni Infantino.

Earlier, President Trump has shown special interest in the success of the tournament, holding the World Cup trophy in person at the White House Oval Office in August last year and announcing that a draw ceremony will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on December 5 of the same year.

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*This content was translated by AI.