Gianni Infantino says he has received assurances directly from President Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump has given assurances that the Iranian team would be welcome at the football World Cup co-hosted by the US this summer, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has said.
Infantino reported the position on Instagram on Tuesday, saying Trump “reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”
Iran qualified for the World Cup finals and is scheduled to play three group games in the US, starting June 15. But Iranian representatives were absent from a recent FIFA planning meeting in Atlanta, fueling speculation the nation might not compete, particularly if the US refuses visas amid its campaign to topple the Iranian government.
Last week, Trump told Politico he did not care whether the Iranian team would participate, arguing Iran is “a very badly defeated country.” Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s Soccer Federation, said after the attack “we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.”
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