LAUSANNE: US President Donald Trump would “welcome” Iran’s participation at the upcoming World Cup in North America, despite the ongoing Middle East war, the White House said on Wednesday.
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.
The US administration was confirming an Instagram post by FIFA chief Gianni Infantino earlier in the day. Infantino wrote that at a meeting to discuss preparations for the competition, “President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”
The comments marked the first time that Infantino, who in December created a FIFA Peace Prize and awarded it to Trump, has acknowledged the ongoing war in the Middle East.
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