Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Monday, March 30, 2026 11:00 p.m. / Updated Monday, March 30, 2026 11:19 p.m.
Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup task force, said he expected Iran to participate in the final tournament this summer. Due to the current conflict in the Middle East, Iran's presence at the World Cup in the USA is uncertain, with officials from both countries often making statements to that effect.
However, the latest news appears to be positive. Speaking at the annual Texas Conservatives conference, Giuliani said, according to the Mirror, that Iran would be welcome and safe if it chose to attend.
Andrew Giuliani: “Right now, we expect Iran to come to the World Cup”
“At this point, we are expecting the Iranian team to come. I think it's a great opportunity for the Iranian diaspora in the United States to see their national. We're doing everything we can to make sure everything is safe, but we need to open up the Department of Homeland Security to maximize the chances that this is not only a safe World Cup, but a resounding success.
As the conflict unfolds, US President Donald Trump has delayed plans to destroy Iran's energy plants, confirming that talks with Tehran are “going well”. Although Iran wants to compete in the World Cup, it has concerns about the safety of its players in the US, which is why it has requested that all its matches be played in Mexico, a request rejected by FIFA.
Some of the fears were fueled by a post Trump made earlier this month. He wrote: “Iran's national football team is welcome at the World Cup, but I don't think it's appropriate for them to be there, for their own lives and safety”.
Andrew Giuliani // photo: Imago Images
His comments sparked backlash, with Iran's national team saying the US should be kicked out of the World Cup. Giuliani later claimed that Trump's post was referring to Iran's women's national team, whose members are reportedly considering seeking asylum in Australia amid allegations that their families in Iran are being threatened by the regime.
If they participate in the World Cup, Iran will be in Group G, along with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
