Former Japan international Keisuke Honda has claimed that a company from the United States has taken action after he publicly backed Iran to participate in this summer's World Cup.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Iran's sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, had ruled out his nation's chances of competing at the 2026 World Cup.
Their status at the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, remains uncertain after the United States and Israel launched a 'major combat operation' in Iran on February 28.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in an airstrike, and the country subsequently launched retaliatory attacks on US and Israel military bases across the West Region of the Middle East.
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Amid escalating conflict, Donyamali was quoted as saying: "Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, no under circumstances can we participate in the World Cup. Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist."
He added: "Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence."
US President Donald Trump has claimed that it would not be "appropriate" for Iran to take part in the World Cup.
Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Thursday morning, Trump wrote: "The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."
On Thursday, former Japan international Keisuke Honda responded to a news report which stated that Iran has "no intention" to feature at the World Cup.
The former CSKA Moscow and AC Milan midfielder, who played at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups, wrote on X: “I know it’s a very sensitive thing, but I personally want them to participate in the World Cup."
A day later, Honda claimed that a U.S. sponsor paused an ad deal after he said he wanted Iran to take part in this summer's tournament.
“It seems that an ad from a US company, which was likely to be finalised in time for the World Cup, has been put on hold due to this statement," he wrote on Friday, adding: "Companies that ignore the essence and make rotten decisions—we're better off without them."
Iran respond to President Donald Trump
On Thursday evening, TeamMelli, the official Instagram account of the Iran national team, issued a statement that was subsequently shared by Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei.
It read: "The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA - not any individual, country.
"Iran's national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament.
"Certainly, no-one can exclude Iran's national team from the World Cup; the only country that could be excluded is one that merely carries the title of 'host' yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino met with Trump earlier this week.
In a statement released by Infantino, it was said that Trump 'reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States'.
"We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever," the statement added. "And I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World."
Topics: Japan, FIFA World Cup, Donald Trump
Jack Kenmare