Donald Trump issues statement on whether Iran will play at World Cup

The tournament takes place in north America

The Middle Eastern nation earned an automatic spot at the tournament in qualifying, and are currently still scheduled to travel to games in the USA, despite the increased development of military tensions with USA and Israel since the weekend.

On Saturday (28th February) the USA and Israel engaged in joint airstrikes on Iran, leading to the deaths of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and many of the country's other leading political figures.

In response, Iran is reported to have engaged in strikes of their own on US allies and bases across the region.

As it stands, all of Iran's group stage matches, against Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, will take place on US soil.

Considering the heightened extent of tensions, reaching their worst in months, it is fair to consider a scenario in which Iran could withdraw from the World Cup, where some 73 of the 104 matches take place in the USA.

This is a question that was put to Trump this week, during an interview with Politico.

Trump responded: "I really don’t care [if Iran participates].

“I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”

Those comments were later clarified by a White House spokesperson, speaking to The Athletic, who said the military action: "removes a major destabilizing threat and will help protect people around the world, including Americans and the millions planning to attend the 2026 World Cup in the United States.”

Representatives from neither the Iranian football federation nor the game's world governing body (FIFA) are yet to comment on Trump's words, but , on Saturday the FIFA General Secretary did say: "of course, our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating.”

It now seems most likely that any final decision to participate would have to be made by Iran between now and the start of the World Cup in June.