Donald Trump does not care whether Iran will compete in the 2026 World Cup or not.
On 4 March 2026, following U.S. President Donald Trump's collaboration with Israel to launch a major military operation—dubbed the "Epic Wrath Operation"—against Iran, the conflict shows no sign of resolution.
One notable impact directly affecting sports is the 2026 World Cup, scheduled from 11 June to 19 July, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Iran having qualified to participate.
Iran remains uncertain about withdrawing its team from the competition, but if they do, Iraq is expected to take their place, as it is the highest-performing team that did not qualify for the tournament.
Recently, Donald Trump clearly stated that he does not care whether Iran participates in the 2026 World Cup or not.
Trump told the French newspaper L'Equipe, "I really don't care. I think Iran is a very weak country. They are about to collapse."