Trump: I don't care about Iran's participation in the World Cup!

In an interview with Politico, US President Donald Trump stated that he is not concerned about Iran's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada later this year. Trump said his focus is on domestic events, economic policies, and security in his country, emphasizing that the participation of certain teams is not a significant factor in his view, either in terms of the tournament's quality or American media coverage. He added that football is inherently global, and that FIFA's decisions determine the participants based on sporting criteria. He sees no need to concern himself with such details outside the scope of his political interests. The US president's remarks come at a time of heightened global anticipation for the upcoming World Cup, which will feature teams from all continents competing from June 11 to July 19, 2026. This will be the first World Cup to be held in three host countries, with the United States, Mexico, and Canada selected to host the world's premier football event. The Iranian national team, which qualified through the Asian qualifiers, is preparing diligently for the tournament, while sports media outlets are focusing on performance predictions, crucial matches, and the efforts of major teams to showcase their best form before the official start of the competition. Trump's statements have sparked mixed reactions among fans and observers. Some consider them a political stance unrelated to sports, while others see them as reflecting his independent vision and his desire to allow football to operate according to its natural rules, separate from politics. The question remains, however, regarding the impact of such statements on the media and political landscape, especially given the current international tensions, and whether this stance will affect sporting relations between the United States and participating teams, including Iran.