Trump: U.S. Has No Intention to Interfere with Iranian Football Players Participating in the World Cup
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. will not affect Iranian athletes participating in this summer's FIFA World Cup. Iran is in the same group as New Zealand, Egypt, and Belgium, with two group matches held in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. However, news emerged this Wednesday that Paul Zamboli, an envoy under Trump, proposed replacing Iran with Italy, which failed to qualify for the tournament.
Facing external inquiries, Zamboli confirmed to CNN that he had proposed the idea to Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stating that he believed Iran originally had no plans to participate. Despite the many practical obstacles brought about by U.S.-Iran tensions, Iran has clearly expressed its intention to participate and is planning related security arrangements for travel to the competition.
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated that the U.S. has not banned the Iranian team from participating in this World Cup.
On Thursday, Rubio explained to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House: “The U.S. concern is not the Iranian athletes themselves, but other personnel accompanying the Iranian side to enter the country – some of whom are associated with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and we will not allow these people to enter.”
He added that all reports of “Italy replacing Iran” are merely speculation.
Rubio stated that the decision of whether Iranian players come to the U.S. to participate rests with Iran itself. He went on to emphasize: “Iran has no right to bring a group of terrorists affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard into the United States, disguised as journalists or team coaches.”