Trump: Iran ‘welcome’ at World Cup despite concerns about player ‘safety’

President Trump is insisting the Iranian men’s soccer team is welcome to travel to the United States for this summer’s World Cup, though he acknowledged safety risks the players could face as U.S. military operation in the Middle East continues this week.

“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Trump wrote in a short Truth Social post on Thursday. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Iranian sports officials have cast doubt on the country’s participation in this summer’s tournament.

“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Iran’s sports minister reportedly told state media this week.

The Iranian regime earlier this week condemned members of the country’s women’s national soccer team who participated in silent protest during the playing of its national anthem before an Asia Cup match in Australia, calling them “traitors.”

Trump encouraged the Australian government to provide asylum to the women, though many of them chose to return to Iran despite threats of retaliation there.

The president’s post comes a day after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he had spoken with Trump, who he said assured him the Iranian men’s national team, which is slated to play matches in Inglewood, Calif., with the third in Seattle from June 15-26, is welcome in the U.S.

“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World,” Infantino, who has gone to great lengths to curry favor with Trump said.

Tensions between warring nations casting a shadow over the World Cup are nothing new, but football historians and geopolitical observers told The Hill last week it is exceedingly rare for a country to send players to World Cup competition within the borders of another nation it is locked in active war with.

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