US Secretary of State: "Iran Welcome at World Cup... Terrorist Accompaniment Unacceptable"

Mark Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, announced that he welcomes the Iranian national team’s participation in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup finals, which will be held in the United States this summer.

According to the New York Times on the 24th (local time), Secretary Rubio stated at an event held at the White House the previous day, "The United States has never informed them that they cannot come," expressing that he would welcome the Iranian squad traveling to the U.S. for the World Cup. He added, "If they decide not to come, that is their decision."

Photo by The Asia Business Daily: U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio

However, he emphasized that individuals associated with the Iranian military would be denied entry. Secretary Rubio drew a clear line, saying, "We cannot accept a situation where they bring members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) terrorist group pretending to be journalists or trainers."

The positions of both countries regarding Iran’s participation in the World Cup have been shifting rapidly. Last month, President Trump initially said he was not concerned about whether the Iranian team would participate in the World Cup, but at the end of the month, he changed his stance, stating, "While the entry of the Iranian squad is welcome, it may not be appropriate for them to come to the United States for the sake of their safety and lives."

Meanwhile, after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, Iran’s Minister of Sports stated that the Iranian delegation’s participation in the World Cup could not be permitted. However, the Iranian government spokesperson said earlier this week that preparations are underway for the team’s participation in the World Cup.

The Iranian national team secured a spot in the finals last year. The three group stage matches involving Iran are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles and Seattle.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.