The Iran national football team has strongly rejected comments attributed to the U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting the team should withdraw from the 2026 FIFA World Cup “for their own life and safety.”

Iran has qualified for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, uncertainty has surrounded the nation’s participation amid heightened political tensions in the region.

According to reports, Trump addressed the issue on his social media platform, warning Iran against taking part in the tournament. His remarks followed escalating hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, including reported military strikes and retaliatory actions that intensified regional instability.

Earlier, the head of the Iran Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, expressed doubts about the team’s prospects for the competition, describing it as unlikely that preparations could proceed as planned under the current circumstances.

In response, the national team issued a statement asserting that participation in the World Cup is governed by international football authorities rather than any individual country or political leader. The team emphasized that the tournament is overseen by FIFA and described it as a global sporting event beyond political control.

“Iran’s national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament,” the statement said. It further asserted that no single nation has the authority to exclude Iran from competition, stressing that decisions regarding participation rest with the sport’s governing bodies.

The 2026 World Cup will mark the first edition of the tournament expanded to 48 teams and will be hosted across three North American countries. The situation surrounding Iran’s participation remains under international scrutiny as geopolitical tensions continue.