According to local newspapers, not long ago, Keisuke Honda posted on social network X expressing his opinion that the Iranian team should participate in the World Cup.
I know this is a very sensitive issue, but personally I still hope Iran will participate in the World Cup," Honda wrote.
The post appeared 1 day after the Iranian Sports Minister said that the country's team may not participate in the tournament due to the conflict situation in the region.
After the article was spread, Honda said that his advertising contract was affected. He wrote on X that: "It seems this statement has caused a US company to decide to terminate an advertising contract that was almost completed to air on time for the World Cup.
The former Japanese player also reacted to this decision and said that he did not want to cooperate with businesses that "ignore the nature of the problem and make decisions based on short-sighted views".
Amid escalating regional tensions, Iran is said to have withdrawn from its plan to participate in this year's World Cup even though it had previously qualified for the finals.
The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 in 3 co-host countries including the US, Mexico and Canada. If participating, the group stage matches of the Iranian team are expected to be held at stadiums in the West Coast region of the United States.
Keisuke Honda is one of the outstanding players of Japanese football for more than a decade. He wore the national team jersey from 2008-2018, scoring 38 goals in 98 matches.
Honda participated in 3 World Cups in 2010, 2014 and 2018, in the group of players who have played the most and scored the most goals for the Japanese national team.
At the continental level, Honda was once voted "Best Player" of the 2011 Asian Cup - the tournament that Japan won the championship.
In his club career, he played for 11 teams in various regions of the world, before retiring in 2024 and switching to coaching.
