2026 World Cup: Donald Trump Boosts Iran’s Fan Base
There are endless ways to cheer on your team. This is especially true in May, when your favorite team, for the third consecutive time, fails to qualify for the World Cup finals. In Italy, many people have been pondering this, and a common question has been, “Will I watch the games objectively, or will I root for a particular team?” Recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about Giorgia Meloni have shaken up many supporters of the Italian prime minister: Iran, which opposes the American tycoon, has become the “underdog.”
The roots of this unusual story stretch back months. As early as April, the Financial Times had revealed that Paolo Zampolli, Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, had lobbied FIFA to have Italy reinstated in Iran’s place. A proposal that had sparked more embarrassment than enthusiasm in Italy: Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti had been blunt, calling it “a shameful thing,” while CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio had emphasized that “participation in a World Cup must be earned.” When asked directly in the Oval Office, Trump himself seemed anything but concerned: “I don’t think too much about it… We don’t want to penalize the athletes.”
Diplomatic tensions between Washington and Rome then erupted with full force in recent days, when Trump attacked Meloni on Truth, claiming that during the G7 summit in France “she repeatedly asked to take a photo with me,” linking the prime minister’s alleged drop in approval ratings to her stance on the Iranian crisis. Meloni’s response was swift: “President Trump, these constant and unwarranted attacks are senseless. Italy remains a sovereign nation.” The clash had immediate political repercussions, with Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani canceling a visit to Miami and President Sergio Mattarella contacting the prime minister.
Amid this heated climate, Iran played its second Group G match right in Los Angeles, the heart of the largest Iranian community outside the borders of the Islamic Republic. Team Melli secured a valuable 0-0 draw against Belgium at SoFi Stadium, even coming close to pulling off a major upset: Captain Mehdi Taremi found the net in the 24th minute, but the goal was disallowed for a millimeter-thin offside call, while in the 52nd minute, Courtois denied them the lead with an instinctive save on his volley. In the closing minutes, with Belgium down to ten men following Ngoy’s red card, the Iranians pressed forward but were unable to find the decisive opening.
At the end of the match, the team coached by Amir Ghalenoei provided a moment of great emotional intensity: instead of heading back to the locker room, the players remained on the field for several minutes, with Taremi gathering his teammates for a brief speech before walking around the perimeter of the field to greet the approximately 70,000 spectators in attendance. It was a heartfelt tribute to the city that is home to the world’s largest Persian diaspora—the same city that had welcomed the national team’s arrival amid protests by many exiles who had fled after the 1979 revolution. “For us, considering the difficulties we faced to get here, this is a historic achievement,” Ghalenoei said at a press conference.
