U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that there are no objections from Washington regarding the participation of Iranian players in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada starting June 11. However, he emphasized that these players will not be permitted to bring individuals associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Rubio clarified that U.S. policy does not prevent Iranian athletes from competing, but there are restrictions concerning accompanying personnel. “They can’t bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers,” he stated, referencing the U.S. designation of the IRGC as a “foreign terrorist organization.” This statement highlights the U.S. government's ongoing concerns regarding security and affiliations linked to the IRGC.
President Donald Trump, in comments made at the White House, echoed Rubio's sentiment, expressing a desire not to hinder the athletes' participation. Meanwhile, Paolo Zampolli, a Trump envoy, suggested that Italy should replace Iran in the tournament; however, there has been no official indication that Iran will withdraw or be banned from the event.
Complications surrounding Iran's participation have arisen in the context of the ongoing conflict in the region. Following the onset of war, Iran had requested that FIFA relocate its group matches from the U.S. to Mexico, a proposal that was ultimately rejected. Amidst these developments, a fragile ceasefire in the Iran war was established over two weeks ago, reflecting the complex geopolitical landscape as the World Cup approaches.