Seattle Congresswoman: Iran Belongs at the World Cup

Politics and soccer don’t have to be opponents on the field. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, whose district encompasses Seattle—one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—made that case loud and clear when she pushed back against the idea that Iran should be benched from the tournament.

Speaking on Friday morning, Jayapal kept her position straightforward: these are athletes, not diplomats.“I think that it is important that we continue to have countries participating from all over the world,”she said.“These are soccer players from Iran…they’re important participants in FIFA.”It’s a refreshing take in a moment when international tensions could easily bleed into the beautiful game, and a reminder that sport has historically served as one of the rare neutral grounds where geopolitics can take a backseat.

The Washington Democrat also addressed security concerns head-on, noting that her city isn’t treating Iran’s scheduled match as a heightened threat. When pressed on whether extra security measures would surround Iran specifically, she was clear:“I don’t think so. No, I haven’t felt it back home at all.”Her office hasn’t fielded constituent complaints either—Seattle, she emphasized, is preparing to welcome fans and teams from around the globe without the kind of hand-wringing that sometimes accompanies these moments.

But Jayapal didn’t use her platform just to defend Iran’s participation. She also took aim at another World Cup controversy that hits closer to home for everyday fans: the eye-watering ticket prices. Some finals tickets are reportedly fetching around $34,000, pricing out regular people who simply want to experience the tournament. She called it frustrating and noted that lawmakers are exploring ways to make at least some tickets more accessible—though she acknowledged the complexity of negotiating with FIFA, an international organization operating by its own rules.

It’s a balancing act: defending inclusion on the world stage while fighting for access closer to home. Jayapal’s stance suggests that maybe the World Cup can be about more than just politics or profit margins—it can be about sport, unity, and fairness all at once.