[Sportschosun reporter Jang Jong-ho] "This is not a World Cup, but a 'War Cup.'"
Iran has sparked controversy after releasing a mocking post about the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Some observers say the message was aimed at the co-host, the United States.
According to foreign media reports, the Iranian embassy in Indonesia retweeted a post from the United States Department of State (State Department) on Social Network Service (SNS) and uploaded content criticizing the United States.
Earlier that day, the State Department said on its official social media account, "We are delighted to welcome fans from around the world during the 2026 World Cup, which coincides with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States," adding that it would "showcase America's achievements, global hospitality and top-level sports."
In response, the Iranian embassy shared the post and wrote, "The biggest disaster ever."
The poster it released alongside the post showed a FIFA World Cup Trophy placed on top of a mountain-like pile of human skulls.
At the top of the poster were the words "War Cup," along with the sentence, "When a regular country of all wars becomes the host nation of the World Cup."
The post quickly spread across SNS and international media, drawing criticism.
Some described it as a direct diplomatic provocation aimed at the United States, while others said it was a symbolic expression carrying a political message amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States.
The controversy came as tensions between Iran and the United States have recently risen again.
In a statement on the 11th, the Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly criticized the United States, saying it had carried out a large-scale attack on Iran the previous night. Iran argued that the strike effectively nullified an earlier ceasefire agreement between the two countries.
Jang Jong-ho, bellho@sportschosun.com
