Donald Trump 'does not care' if Iran play at World Cup | OneFootball

FIFA Peace Prize winner has approved strikes on Iran, alongside Israel

US President Donald Trump “does not care” if Iran participates in the summer World Cup.

The World Cup is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and Iran’s three group games are all on American soil. They are due to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Iran and the US will face off in a knockout game in Dallas on July 3, should they both finish second in their respective groups.

Asked about Iran’s involvement in the World Cup, inaugural FIFA Peace Prize winner Trump said to Politico: "I really don't care.

“I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They're running on fumes.”

FIFA, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Iran is one of two competing nations subject to Trump's most restrictive travel ban, enacted by executive order last June, according to Politico.

While the ban carves out World Cup teams and support personnel, decisions on visa exceptions for others “including government figures or executives from team-sponsoring companies” are left to the State Department on a case-by-case basis.

Andrew Giuliani, director of the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force, said in a January interview in Colorado Springs Œthat security concerns would shape the administration's approach to travel ban exceptions.

In a statement to Politico on Tuesday, Giuliani added: "President Trump's decisive action to eliminate the Ayatollah, Œthe most notorious state sponsor of terrorism in my lifetime, removes a major destabilising threat and will help protect people around the world, including Americans and the millions planning to attend the 2026 World Cup in the United States."

In the modern era, no team which has qualified has not taken part in the World Cup finals. Iran would almost certainly be replaced if it withdraws from the tournament.