By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
US president Donald Trump says he does not care if Iran play in this summer’s World Cup which is set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Trump told Politico on Tuesday: “I really don’t care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”
His comments follow Iran’s notable absence as the only nation missing from a FIFA planning summit for World Cup participants held this week in Atlanta.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said the viciousness of the attacks by U.S. and Israeli forces did not augur well for the World Cup, to be held from June 11 to July 19.
Iran secured a trip to a fourth successive World Cup by topping Group A in the third round of Asian qualifying last year.
The Iranians were grouped with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G. Their matches are scheduled to take place in the U.S., two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.