US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced yesterday, Thursday, that Washington does not object to the participation of Iranian players in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but he indicated that the players will not be allowed to accompany people with ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
“Nothing has come from the United States preventing them from attending,” Rubio told reporters.
President Donald Trump said in statements at the White House that his administration “does not want to influence athletes.”
The FIFA World Cup is scheduled to start on June 11 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Paolo Zampolli, Trump’s envoy who has no official connection to the World Cup, had previously suggested that Italy replace Iran in the tournament.
“The problem with Iran is not their athletes,” Rubio said. “It’s some other people they want to take with them, some of whom have connections to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. We may not let them in, but not the athletes.”
