Will Iran play at the 2026 World Cup? Explaining the state of play

The United States? and Israel?s war with Iran has implications in the sports world, with a war of words involving Fifa leaving the team?s status unclear
Iran?s participation in this summer?s World Cup appears to change on an almost hourly basis. US president Donald Trump caused more confusion on Thursday by saying he did not believe it ?is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety?.
The incendiary post on Truth Social came less than 48 hours after Fifa?s president, Gianni Infantino, said Trump had told him in a meeting at the White House on Tuesday evening that Iran would be ?welcome? at the World Cup. Hours later, Iran?s football federation posted its response on Instagram, stating: ?No one can exclude Iran?s national team from the World Cup? and going on to say that the US should be removed as host due to Trump?s implicit threat.
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