Live updates: Iran war news, attacks on ships in Strait of Hormuz escalate, as Tehran launches ‘intense’ strikes

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said US President Donald Trump assured him during a meeting that Iran’s national team is welcome to participate in this summer’s World Cup matches in the US, even as the war with Iran expands in the Middle East.

Infantino said he met Tuesday with Trump and discussed preparations for the tournament, which begins in June, as well as the Iranian team’s qualification for the event.

“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said in an Instagram post following the meeting.

Whether the team will attend, however, remains unclear.

Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s soccer federation, recently suggested the country’s participation could be in doubt.

“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Taj told sports portal Varzesh3.

Even before the latest tensions, Iran’s involvement in the tournament was already complicated by US travel restrictions.

Iran’s fans were previously told they would not be eligible for visas to enter the United States for the tournament, raising questions about whether fans would be able to attend matches if the team ultimately participates. And the Iranian delegation nearly boycotted last year’s draw in Washington, DC, after more than half of the group saw their visa applications denied.

Infantino framed the tournament as a potential moment for global unity despite the tensions.

“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever,” he wrote in the post, thanking Trump for his support. “Football unites the world.”