Speaking to Iranian State TV on Monday while returning from Burgenstock, Ghalibaf said comments made by US President Donald Trump nearly disrupted the negotiations.

"Trump had spoken in a highly threatening manner toward both the negotiating delegation and our president, as well as regarding an attack on our territory," he revealed.

"Right there, I told Mr Vance, 'Mr Vance, we are having discussions here, and we signed the first clause here stating that there should be no threats or force'; however, today your president spoke of threats and force. Know that we never negotiate in the face of threats and force."

The talks involved US and Iranian officials alongside mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.

Ghalibaf said Iran continues to view Washington with suspicion despite engaging in negotiations.

"We have been really distrustful of the Americans, and we still distrust them; when we look at their crimes, it is only logical that we distrust them," he admitted.

Despite the tensions, Ghalibaf described the discussions as productive.

"Especially the discussions regarding the strait [Hormuz], Lebanon, the oil waiver, and the issue of releasing the funds [Iran's frozen assets], which is one of the steps forward; however, we believe we are still at the beginning and must continue to strive."

The remarks followed a series of comments by Trump on Sunday warning Iran over developments in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz.

Media reports said the Iranian delegation briefly left the negotiating room and complained to mediators before returning, describing the interruption as a pause rather than a withdrawal.

Following the talks, US Vice President JD Vance said negotiators had made progress despite what he called "a little bit of threatening and a little bit of whining."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also reported advances in the discussions.

"Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War," he posted on social media.

"Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction and development plan launched for Iran."

The negotiations are taking place under a Memorandum of Understanding reached last week between the United States and Iran, which gives both sides 60 days to secure a final agreement.

FIFA's expanded 2026 World Cup is not only the largest tournament in the competition's history but also the most lucrative, with the winning nation set to receive $50 million in prize money, according to FIFA's official financial framework for the tournament.

The competition, hosted across the United States , Canada and Mexico, features a record 48 teams, up from 32 in previous editions. The expanded format has significantly increased financial rewards, ensuring every participating nation receives a substantial payout regardless of performance.

Under FIFA's prize distribution model, the tournament champions will earn $50 million, while the runners-up will receive $33 million. The third-placed team will take home $29 million, and the fourth-placed side will collect $27 million.

Quarter-finalists are guaranteed $19 million each; teams reaching the Round of 16 will earn $15 million, while nations eliminated in the Round of 32 receive $11 million. Teams exiting in the first knockout round, known as the Round of 48, will receive $9 million.

In addition to performance-based prize money, FIFA has allocated $2.5 million in preparation funding to every qualified nation. This means all 48 participants are guaranteed at least $12.5 million from the tournament.

The increased payouts reflect FIFA's growing commercial revenues from broadcasting rights, sponsorships and global partnerships. The governing body has projected record revenues for the 2023-2026 cycle, driven largely by the first-ever 48-team men's World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly stated that the expanded tournament is designed to increase global participation while ensuring more nations benefit financially from football's biggest event.

For emerging football nations, the guaranteed payments can provide a significant boost to infrastructure development, youth programmes and national team operations. For smaller federations, a World Cup appearance can generate revenues that exceed several years of normal football income.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Prize Money

According to FIFA, the expanded financial structure ensures that all participating nations share in the economic benefits of the world's most-watched sporting event while maintaining substantial rewards for teams that advance deep into the tournament.

Germany and the United States sit atop football's all-time World Cup honours list when men's and women's FIFA World Cup titles are combined, underlining decades of dominance across both sides of the game.

According to FIFA records and Women's World Cup archives, Germany has won six FIFA World Cup titles — four men's crowns and two women's championships — while the United States has captured four Women's World Cup titles, the most by any nation in the women's game.

The combined rankings highlight a small group of countries that have consistently produced elite national teams, with Brazil , Italy, Argentina and France also featuring prominently among football's most successful nations.

Germany's men's team won the FIFA World Cup in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014, while Germany's women lifted the Women's World Cup in 2003 and 2007, becoming the first nation to win both the men's and women's global titles.

Germany's six combined titles place it among football's most successful countries across both competitions.

The United States owes its place among football's most successful nations largely to the achievements of the US Women's National Team.

The Americans won Women's World Cup titles in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019, more than any other nation. The team also became the first to win back-to-back Women's World Cups since Germany's consecutive triumphs in 2003 and 2007.

The USWNT remains one of the most successful teams in international sport and continues to rank among the world's elite women's national sides.

Brazil also remains the most successful nation in the men's FIFA World Cup, having won a record five titles in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. However, the country's women's team has yet to win a Women's World Cup despite reaching the 2007 final.

Argentina, France and Uruguay have also strengthened their standing through success in the men's tournament, while Japan and Norway entered football history by winning Women's World Cup titles in 2011 and 1995, respectively.

FIFA World Cup history shows that when it comes to all-continent finals, Europe has overwhelmingly dominated the sport's biggest stag e.

Since the inaugural tournament in 1930, there have been 11 World Cup finals contested by teams from the same continent, with nine featuring two European nations and only two involving South American rivals, according to FIFA records.

The trend highlights Europe's sustained strength in international football, particularly since the latter half of the 20th century, as UEFA nations have regularly produced multiple title contenders capable of reaching the final.

The first all-European World Cup final took place in 1934, when host nation Italy defeated Czechoslovakia 2-1 after extra time in Rome. Four years later, Italy successfully defended its title with a 4-2 victory over Hungary.

Subsequent all-European finals came in:

Many of these matches became defining moments in football history , including England's only World Cup triumph in 1966 and Spain's maiden title in 2010.

South America has produced only two same-continent finals, both in the tournament's early decades.

The first World Cup final in 1930 saw Uruguay defeat Argentina 4-2 in Montevideo, while 1950 featured the famous Uruguay-Brazil showdown at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã Stadium, where Uruguay stunned the hosts 2-1 in what became known as the "Maracanazo."

Despite South America producing some of football's most successful nations, including Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, intercontinental finals have been far more common than all-CONMEBOL deciders.

A review of player birthplaces shows 98 World Cup players were born in France, more than any other country. The figure reflects not only France's renowned football development system but also the increasingly international nature of modern football, where players often represent nations linked to their family heritage rather than their place of birth.

The trend has been highlighted in reporting by The New York Times , which has documented how migration, dual nationality and diaspora communities have transformed the composition of national teams across major international tournaments.

The 10 most common birthplaces among players at the 2026 World Cup are:

Europe accounts for nine of the top ten birthplaces, highlighting the continent's continued dominance in player development and elite football infrastructure .

A global game with local roots

Many players born in France represent countries in Africa, the Caribbean and other regions due to FIFA eligibility rules, which allow athletes to play for nations connected through parents, grandparents or citizenship.

France's diverse population and extensive youth academy network have helped make the country one of football's most productive talent exporters. Similar patterns can be seen in the Netherlands, England, Belgium and Germany, where multicultural communities have contributed significantly to the international player pool.

India, the world's most populous country with more than 1.47 billion people, remains the largest nation never to qualify for a FIFA World Cup , highlighting one of international football's most striking contrasts between population size and sporting success.

Data compiled by Seasia Stats , based on global population estimates and FIFA qualification records, shows that several of the world's most populous countries have yet to make an appearance at football's premier tournament despite representing hundreds of millions of people.

India tops the list, followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and the Philippines, all nations with populations exceeding 100 million.

While countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany and France have built rich World Cup traditions, many heavily populated nations continue to struggle to reach the finals.

According to Seasia Stats, the ten most populous countries that have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup are:

Together, these nations account for more than 2.4 billion people , nearly one-third of the world's population.

Speaking on Thursday, Qalibaf said the memorandum signed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump is based on reciprocal action from both sides.

"Every commitment we make, is reciprocal, and action for action. This has been fully stipulated in Clause 13. We have appointed observers for this matter, which means we must jointly agree on the identity of these observers, as well as on these mediators and the other countries tasked with implementation," Qalibaf stated.

"But rest assured, if they fail to fulfill [on any of the clauses], we will not fulfill [our part] accordingly," he added.

Qalibaf said the agreement also includes plans to direct significant investment into Iran during the negotiation period.

"One of the measures we took here [MoU] was to allocate 300 billion dollars so that, during this same negotiation period, which is a limited 60-day window, we can channel these 300 billion dollars into the investment sector," he continued.

Despite participating in the negotiations, Qalibaf said he remains deeply sceptical of the United States.

"I am the one who has the most distrust [of the US], especially because I am the negotiator. I told Mr JD Vance in Islamabad that I came here to negotiate, but know this well that we have complete distrust toward you. We have come here in good faith," he concluded.

The remarks came after the signing of the memorandum between Tehran and Washington, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif endorsing the agreement as mediator.

The conflict that led to the negotiations began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran. Tehran responded with missile attacks, escalating tensions across the region.

A conditional ceasefire was announced on April 8, paving the way for talks between the two sides.