Trump backs Iran’s participation at World Cup: ‘Let them play’
Uncertainty surrounding Iran ’s participation in this summer’s World Cup on United States soil has been clarified after United States President Donald Trump gave his approval, stating, "Let them play. " Iran’s place in the finals had been in doubt following air strikes launched by the US and Israel against the country on February 28. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had consistently maintained Iran would compete as scheduled, with all three group matches taking place in the US, a position he reiterated at FIFA ’s Congress on Thursday.
Asked about Infantino’s remarks later that day, Mr Trump responded: "Well if Gianni said it, I’m OK. " “Did Gianni say it? Gianni Infantino – that’s a piece of work.
” Asked what would happen if Iran won, Trump replied: “If they win we’ll have to worry about that. I’m going to have to worry about that one. “You know what, let them play.
Gianni is fantastic, he’s a friend of mine, he talked about it, I said, ‘you do whatever you want’. You can have them, you don’t have to have them, they probably have a good team. Do they have a good team, do you have any idea?
” The reporter who posed the initial question said he had no idea. Trump replied: “It would be hard to believe actually. But let them play, right?