The men’s national football team of Iran is still expected to participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America, officials from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Monday despite security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. US President Donald Trump warned last week that the Iranian team’s “life and safety” could be at risk if they travel to the competition, raising questions about whether the country would take part.
The warning comes as tensions continue following the war triggered by joint US and Israel strikes on Iran on February 28.
However, AFC General Secretary Windsor Paul John said there had been no official indication that Iran would withdraw from the global tournament.
“As far as we know, Iran is playing,” Windsor told reporters at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
“We are monitoring whether they are playing or not, but at the moment they are. There is no official information that they are not playing.”
He added that the AFC hopes Iran will resolve the issues surrounding its participation.
“Iran is a top team, and we hope they will solve their issues and be able to participate in the World Cup,” he said.
Trump had earlier said on his Truth Social platform that the Iranian team would be welcome at the tournament, but suggested attending could put them in danger.
“I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, developments also emerged involving members of Iran’s women’s national football delegation who travelled to Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Seven members of the Iranian delegation had initially sought asylum in Australia after reportedly being labelled “traitors” at home for refusing to sing the national anthem during the tournament.
However, the captain of the Iranian women’s team later withdrew her asylum request on Sunday, leaving only two members of the group planning to remain in Australia.
Reports from a former player and a Persian-language television channel outside Iran suggested that some players had been pressured to reverse their asylum bids following threats against their families.
Iranian authorities, however, accused Australia of encouraging the players to stay. According to AFC officials, the players planning to return were staying at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur while awaiting their onward travel to Iran.
Asked about the situation, Windsor said the confederation would support whatever decision the players make.
“It’s their decision and we will support that,” he said.
