Officials from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Monday that Iran’s men’s national football team is still slated to participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America, despite existing security anxieties tied to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The highly anticipated tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Last week, US President Donald Trump expressed concerns that the safety of the Iranian players could be jeopardized if they travel for the event, prompting speculation regarding their attendance.
This warning surfaced amid escalating tensions following military actions initiated by a collaborative US and Israeli operation against Iran on February 28.
Nonetheless, AFC General Secretary Windsor Paul John stated that there has been no formal communication indicating that Iran would withdraw from the tournament.
“As far as we know, Iran is participating,” Windsor disclosed to journalists at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
“We are actively monitoring the situation regarding their participation, but up until now, they are confirmed to be playing. We have received no official word suggesting otherwise.”
He further emphasized the AFC’s desire for Iran to resolve any challenges related to their participation.
“Iran is a strong team, and we are hopeful that they will address any issues and take part in the World Cup,” he remarked.
Earlier, Trump noted on his Truth Social platform that although the Iranian team would be welcome at the event, their attendance might pose risks to their safety.
“I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” he stated.
In related news, there were developments concerning members of Iran’s women’s national football team who recently traveled to Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Initially, seven participants from the Iranian delegation sought asylum in Australia, reportedly labeled as “traitors” back home for declining to sing the national anthem during the tournament.
However, on Sunday, the captain of the Iranian women’s team withdrew her asylum request, while only two members of the group expressed intentions to remain in Australia.
Insider reports from a former player and a Persian-language network outside Iran allege that some players were pressured to retract their asylum claims following threats against their families.
Iranian authorities, however, accused Australia of enticing the players to stay. According to AFC officials, the returning players are currently housed in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur while awaiting their flight back to Iran.
When asked about the situation, Windsor affirmed that the confederation would respect and support the players’ decisions.
“It’s their choice, and we stand behind them,” he stated.
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