Pakistani actor Arslan Naseer has taken a swipe at India, comparing Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States with India’s continued refusal to play bilateral cricket against Pakistan.
In an Instagram post, Naseer pointed out that despite months of tensions between Iran and the US, Iran’s football team is still set to play World Cup matches on American soil. He contrasted this with India’s position on cricketing ties with Pakistan, suggesting that political tensions have continued to affect sports between the two neighbours.
His remarks appeared to refer to the May 2025 military confrontation between Pakistan and India, which followed India’s Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terror attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has claimed that it downed six Indian fighter jets and caused significant military losses during the cross-border exchange.
