Anthony Zurcher

And as you mentioned, it's kind of vague what the life and safety threats are.

But it did seem kind of like a veiled threat, right?

And also Donald Trump trying to encourage them not to come because he didn't want the optics, the visual images of Iran playing

I think that the Trump officials kind of walk that back after the fact.

I talked to Andrew Giuliani yesterday.

World Cup matches on American soil at a time when the United States and Iran were in the midst of hostilities on the battlefield.

uh who uh trump put in charge of security at the world cup and and i asked him about that that uh true social post he said well no you know we iran is welcome here they're welcome to play their matches here uh and and that work you know donald trump later clarified that they could do it but it did seem kind of like a failed threat right and also donald trump trying to encourage them not to come because uh he didn't want the the optics the the visual images of iran playing

World Cup matches on American soil at a time when the United States and Iran were in the midst of hostilities on the battlefield.

And they actually played in 1998, the U.S.

and Iran.

And there was a lot of political tension there.

And that was just because of the Iranian revolution in 79 and the various lower level clashes between the United States and Iran over the ensuing decade.

So the stage would be set for something that would be very dramatic if it gets to that.

And they actually played in 1998, the U.S.

and Iran.

And there was a lot of fraught political tension there.

And I, you know,

We'll see.

And that was just because of the Iranian revolution in 79 and the various lower level clashes between the United States and Iran over the ensuing decades.

I don't think it's likely, but you never know with soccer, anything's possible, right?