Former US President Donald Trump had cautioned the team on Thursday, saying their “life and safety” might be in danger if they attend the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.

Tensions rose after US-Israeli strikes on February 28, leaving Iran’s participation uncertain.

“As far as we know, Iran is playing,” said Windsor Paul John, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). “We are monitoring the situation, but at the moment there is no official information that they will not participate.”

Windsor added that the AFC hopes Iran, considered one of Asia’s top teams, will be able to compete in the World Cup.

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, said the Iranian team was welcome to play but expressed doubts about it being “appropriate for their own life and safety.”

Meanwhile, in the women’s football scene, the captain of the Iranian national team, which recently played in the Asian Cup in Australia, withdrew her request for asylum on Sunday.

Originally, seven members of Iran’s visiting women’s team had sought asylum in Australia after refusing to sing the national anthem, which led to them being labeled “traitors” back home. With the captain’s decision, only two players now plan to remain in Australia.

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AReports suggest the players were pressured to change their minds, possibly through threats against their families. Iranian authorities accused Australia of pressuring the players to stay.

The returning players were in a Kuala Lumpur hotel, waiting for travel arrangements back to Iran.

When asked about the future of the women’s team, Windsor said the AFC would support the players’ decisions. “It’s their choice when they want to leave, and we will respect that,” he added.