Your life is at risk, stay away from the World Cup' – Trump cautions Iran

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US President Donald Trump warned Iran’s football team Thursday their “life and safety” would be at risk if they took part in the upcoming World Cup in North America.

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Trump’s comments came just two days after he told FIFA chief Gianni Infantino the Iranian players would be welcome despite the Middle East war.

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“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 said on his Truth Social platform.

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The war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28, has thrown into doubt Iran’s participation at this summer’s men’s football World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

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Infantino, the head of world football’s governing body, said earlier this week that during a meeting with Trump at the White House they had discussed the “current situation in Iran.”

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“President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” he wrote after the meeting on Tuesday.

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Infantino in December created a FIFA peace prize and awarded it to Trump.

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His comments were the first time the football chief has acknowledged the ongoing war in the Middle East.

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Trump this week weighed in on the case of Iran’s visiting women footballers in Australia, calling for them to get asylum.

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The players feared they could face retaliation back home for not singing the national anthem before an Asian Cup match.

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Australia later agreed to grant asylum to the five players who decided to stay.

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