US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, even though just days ago he assured the FIFA president that the Iranian team would be welcome there despite the war in the Middle East, Roitico writes..

"

His message came two days after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he had spoken to Trump “about the situation in Iran” and received assurances from him that the Iranian team could participate in the World Cup, which will be held in North America this summer..

" We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together more than ever. “I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, because this once again shows that football unites the world,” Infantino wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

However, just a few hours later, Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announced that the country would not participate in the tournament, which was scheduled to begin in less than 100 days..

“Given that this corrupt regime killed our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup. Our children are in danger and in general the conditions for participation simply do not exist,” Donyamali told state television.

Iran's participation in the tournament became the subject of debate after the country's representatives were absent from FIFA's recent tournament planning meeting in Atlanta..

Trump told Politico earlier this month that he doesn't care whether Iran ends up taking part in the tournament..

" I think Iran is a country that has suffered a very serious defeat. They are holding on with all their might,"

Iran is scheduled to play three group stage matches in the United States in June - two in Los Angeles against New Zealand and Belgium, and one in Seattle against Egypt..

[see_also ids\u003d"

Earlier, the President of the International Football Federation (FIFA) Gianni Infantino said that he wants to consider the possibility of canceling the suspension of national teams and clubs from Russia from all international tournaments.

European Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef strongly condemned Infantino's idea, emphasizing that the aggressor poses real security risks and called for the ban to be maintained.