Donald Trump on Iran's World Cup participation and ticket chaos

Preparations for the 2026 football championship are entering a decisive phase, but instead of a festive sports mood, the debate is dominated by politics and security. President Donald Trump, asked about a possible boycott or exclusion of Iran's national team, stated tersely: 'I really don't care.' These words have sparked a wave of comments, considering that the USA is the main host of the tournament, and relations with Tehran remain extremely tense. The president's voice is interpreted as an attempt to separate sports from current military actions in the Middle East, although many commentators point out that the host's neutrality in this matter is difficult to maintain. Simultaneously, reports have circulated worldwide about a bold protest by the Iranian women's national team during the Asian Cup. The footballers refused to sing the national anthem and did not wear hijabs in the prescribed manner, manifesting opposition to the regime in Tehran. This act of courage coincides with reports of some teams withdrawing from World Cup qualifiers and voices of experts, such as Massimo Mauro, who directly call for a boycott of the event organized in the United States as a form of political pressure. Since 1978, when Argentina hosted the World Cup under the shadow of a military dictatorship, the relationship between major football tournaments and authoritarian regimes has raised intense ethical controversies. The economic situation around the tournament is also causing concern. In Mexico, one of the co-hosts, rental prices are rising dynamically, and traditional housing resources are being displaced by short-term offers from platforms like Airbnb. The ticket market shows extreme anomalies: while FIFA offers tickets for intercontinental playoffs for less than $20, prices on the secondary market for key matches of the main tournament reach astronomical amounts, exceeding even a million pesos. The ticket chaos is exacerbating an internal dispute in the German football federation DFB, where there has been an open conflict between the association's authorities and the opposition over support for FIFA's actions. „I really don't care if Iran plays in World Cup” — Donald Trump In the shadow of high politics, news of Cristiano Ronaldo's injury has caused a stir among fans. The player's club issued a statement about the injury, which calls into question his fitness ahead of the upcoming tournament, which for many stars of the older generation is to be their last appearance on the global stage. The sporting aspect of the World Cup is thus mixed with concerns about logistics, security, and rising participation costs, which could exclude poorer fans from taking part in the event.