Qalenoei hits back at Trump over Team Melli’s safety at World Cup
Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei said "no one has the authority" to leave his team out of this summer's FIFA World Cup, which will be cohosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Qalenoei made the remarks in response to U.S. President Donald Trump, who cast doubt on Team Melli's safety at the global showpiece on Thursday.
Iran is scheduled to kick off its Group G campaign against New Zealand at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on June 16, before facing Belgium at the same arena five days later.
The final round of the group fixtures will see Iran take on Egypt in Seattle, Washington, on June 26.
The U.S. president, writing on Truth Social, said that Team Melli would be "welcome to The World Cup", but he doesn't believe "it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."
"Thank you for your attention to this matter," concluded Trump, who made the comments amid an ongoing conflict between Iran and a U.S.-Israeli coalition.
The United States and Israel started a war campaign against Iran on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several top Iranian military commanders on the first day of airstrikes in Tehran.
Iran responded with widespread missile and drone attacks against Israel and U.S. bases in the region.
"The World Cup is a historic and international event organized by FIFA, not by any single nation," Qalenoei wrote on Instagram later on Thursday.
"Iran’s national team, led by the valiant sons of the country, earned its place among the first teams to qualify for this prestigious tournament through a series of decisive victories.
Undoubtedly, no one has the authority to exclude Iran from the World Cup; if any country is to be expelled, it should be the one that merely carries the title of “host” but fails to guarantee the safety and security of the participating teams," added the Iranian coach.
This was the latest twist in the contervesy swirling around Team Melli's World Cup seventh participation at the flagship international football event.
Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali and Mahdi Taj, the chairman of the Iranian Football Federation, had hinted at the country boycotting the tournament in recent days.
"This corrupt regime has martyred our leader and thousands of our people," Donyamali said on Wednesday.
"Given the evil acts they have committed against Iran, imposing two wars on us in eight, nine months, I think our players will not be safe in the United States and the conditions are simply not there for the team to take part in the tournament," added the Iranian official.
The Guardian reported last week that FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has warened Taj against boycotting the tournament, as the Iranian federation could face punishment by the international governing body of the sport.
Iran’s women’s national team became the focal point of a political and media storm during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia last week, with foreign governments and outlets amplifying claims that the players would face execution upon returning home after remaining silent during the national anthem before their first game against South Korea.
Iranian officials denied all the allegations, emphasizing that no punitive measures awaited the players.
However, six players and one technical staff member applied for asylum, with Australia’s Home Affairs approving their requests, while the rest of the squad departed Sydney for Malaysia, then Turkey, on their way back to Iran.