India, April 24 -- United States signalled on Thursday that Iranian players will be allowed to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even as it drew a firm line on who can accompany them.

Standing beside President Donald Trump, secretary of state Marco Rubio said there is no objection to the team's presence, but individuals linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would not be permitted entry.

"Nothing from the US has told them they can't come," Rubio told reporters.

Rubio stressed that the concern lies with non-playing members travelling with the team. "The problem with Iran would be not their athletes. It would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We ma...