US President Donald Trump has stated that he is indifferent to whether Iran competes in this summer’s World Cup, amidst rising tensions in the Middle East.

Over the past five days, Iran has been the target of Israeli and American military strikes, sparking retaliatory attacks against US allies in the Gulf region.

The United States, along with Canada and Mexico, is set to co-host the World Cup, with Trump playing a prominent role in promoting the event. He has been closely associated with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who honored him with the ‘FIFA Peace Prize’ three months ago.

If Iran decides to withdraw, Iraq and the UAE stand as the probable replacements. Iraq has an opportunity to qualify by winning an intercontinental play-off against either Bolivia or Suriname, scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico.

In the scenario where Iraq secures qualification, the UAE could take Iran’s place as the next highest-ranked Asian team. Alternatively, if Iraq loses the play-off, they might still be in contention should Iran decide to step back.

Donald Trump, pictured picking up his peace award from FIFA president Gianni Infantino last December, insists he ‘does not care’ if Iran play at the World Cup 

Mehdi Taj, the head of the Iranian Football Association, recently expressed skepticism, stating, “It is far from our expectations that we can look at the World Cup with hope.”

He added that a decision over the team’s participation would be made by the country’s sports officials. 

FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom suggested the possibility of withdrawal had already been discussed, saying: ‘We had a meeting… and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world.

‘Our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating.’

Iran are due to play New Zealand and Belgium in LA before their last group game against Egypt in Seattle.

Trump is expected to be front and centre for the World Cup, as he was for the Club World Cup last summer, and was brought on stage for the draw in Washington DC last December when he was given a medal, winning the inaugural ‘FIFA Peace Prize’.

If Iran was to withdraw, the country could be replaced by another Asian nation. 

Article 6 of the regulations for the 2026 World Cup says that ‘if a participating member association withdraws… as a result of force majeure,’ FIFA ‘shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary.’

If a team withdraws or is excluded from the competition, FIFA therefore has the freedom to take whatever decision it sees fit and ‘may decide to replace the participating member association in question with another association.’

Smoke rises following an explosion from a strike near Azadi in Iran as conflict rages on 

At the moment eight Asian teams have qualified for the first World Cup to feature 48 teams in total. 

It is now less than 100 days until the World Cup starts and it remains to be seen how long the conflict between the US and Iran will continue. 

Trump believes the fighting will take place for around another month, saying: ‘It’s always been a four-week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so. It’s always been about a four-week process so – as strong as it is, it’s a big country, it’ll take four weeks – or less.’

There were further strikes on Iran overnight after their retaliatory attacks on US bases including a CIA station at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

The US Consulate in Dubai was also rocked by a drone strike on Tuesday and Israeli military said it has conducted a series of attacks across Iran’s capital targeting its security forces after it previously targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.

Israel has launched fresh strikes on Iran and Lebanon, while Iran’s Guards said they had sealed off one of the world’s most vital shipping routes for energy.

Iran might pull out of the World Cup but no decision has been made by their FA

Governments across the world are scrambling to evacuate citizens stranded in the Middle East.

With global energy prices already on the rise over the expanding war, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it has ‘complete control’ of the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial chokepoint into the Gulf.

But Trump said the US had ‘knocked out’ Iran’s navy, along with its air force and radar systems, and that the US Navy was ready to escort tankers through the waterway through which one-fifth of global seaborne oil pass.