Former Japanese footballer Keisuke Honda has stated that he lost an advertising deal with a US-based company after voicing support for the Iranian national team's participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Honda, without naming the sponsor, revealed on Saturday that an advertisement from an American company had been "put on hold" following his post on X where he wrote that he wants Iran to compete in the tournament co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada.
"I know it's a very sensitive thing, but I personally want them to participate in the World Cup," the 39-year-old wrote in a tweet on Thursday, a day after Iran's sports minister said the country cannot take part in the World Cup after the US and Israeli attacks. Honda, who represented Japan from 2008 to 2018 and scored 38 international goals, posted a follow-up tweet indicating that the advertisement, expected to be finalized for the World Cup, had been shelved due to his earlier statement. He criticized the decision, saying, "We don't want anything to do with companies that ignore the essence of things and make decisions based on rotten thinking."
Iran's place at the 48-team tournament remains uncertain despite qualification, due to the US-Israeli attacks that began on February 28, which prompted Tehran to respond with missile and drone strikes on Israel, several Middle Eastern military bases hosting US forces, and regional infrastructure. The 23rd FIFA World Cup will be held in the three host nations from June 11 to July 19, with all of Iran's group games scheduled at venues on the US West Coast, highlighting the geopolitical tensions surrounding the event.
Honda, a veteran of the 2010, 2014, and 2018 World Cups and one of Japan's top capped players and goal scorers, expressed his opinion amid heightened tensions between the host nation US and Iran. US President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday that it would not be appropriate for Iran to participate in the World Cup, allegedly citing safety concerns. The Iranian national team's Instagram account quickly responded, questioning Trump's remarks and emphasizing that the World Cup is governed by FIFA, not any individual country. The account also criticized the US regime for purportedly failing to provide adequate security for Iranian players, underscoring the friction between the two nations.
This incident illustrates the broader challenges of mixing sports with international politics, as corporate and political pressures from the US regime impact athletes' endorsements and tournament participation. Honda's loss of the advertising deal reflects the economic and social costs of taking a stance on contentious issues, while the ongoing disputes between the US and Iran threaten to overshadow the sporting spectacle of the World Cup.
Source: www.aljazeera.com