Former Japan international Keisuke Honda says he lost a nearly finalized advertising contract with a United States company after publicly supporting Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The disclosure came through a message posted on social media platform X, where Honda responded to reports suggesting Iran could withdraw from the tournament.

“I know this is a sensitive topic, but personally I want Iran to participate in the World Cup,” Honda wrote while commenting on the development.

In a follow-up post, the former AC Milan midfielder revealed that his remark appeared to have immediate consequences in the commercial sphere.

“Because of this statement, it seems a US company cancelled an advertisement that was almost agreed with me to run during the World Cup,” Honda wrote.

Honda also made clear he had no interest in working with companies that base decisions on what he described as a misunderstanding of the core issue.

“I don’t want to be associated with companies that ignore the essence of the matter and make decisions for the wrong reasons,” he said.

Iran’s World Cup status under scrutiny

The situation surrounding Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has drawn international attention following tensions involving the United States, one of the tournament’s hosts.

Iran previously signaled it could withdraw from the competition, citing concerns linked to the conflict with the United States.

FIFA has attempted to reassure the Iranian side, indicating that security guarantees would be provided to ensure the team can compete safely during the tournament.

However, statements attributed to US President Donald Trump appeared to complicate the situation. The remarks suggested that safety assurances for players such as Mehdi Taremi were not guaranteed.

The response from Team Melli was swift. Iranian representatives argued that the issue should not be framed as whether Iran deserves to participate, but rather questioned the readiness of the United States as a World Cup host.

The exchange has added a political dimension to preparations for the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.