Japanese Soccer Star Keisuke Honda Loses US Advertising Deal

US Company Cancels Advertising Campaign Amid Controversy Over Iran’s Participation in FIFA World Cup

A US-based company has put its advertising campaign on hold ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, following a statement made by Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda. In a tweet posted on Thursday, Honda expressed his support for the Iranian national team to participate in the tournament, citing concerns over the country’s safety.

Honda, who represented Japan from 2008 to 2018 and scored 38 international goals, stated that he wants Iran to compete in the World Cup. The statement was made a day after Iran’s sports minister announced that the country could not take part in the tournament due to ongoing tensions with the US and Israel.

The company, which has not been named, reportedly shelved its advertisement plans following Honda’s tweet. In a follow-up post, Honda stated that the decision was made by the company due to his earlier statement, which they deemed “rotten thinking.”

US President Donald Trump had previously expressed concerns over Iran’s participation in the World Cup, stating that it would not be appropriate for the team to compete due to safety concerns.

FIFA has confirmed that all 48 teams participating in the tournament have qualified, and the event is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19. The Iranian national team’s group games are set to be played on the US West Coast.

The controversy surrounding Iran’s participation in the World Cup highlights the complex geopolitical tensions between the host nation, the US, and Iran.

Source: Al Jazeera