Arjun Menon
Infantino Confirms Iran Will Compete at 2026 World Cup in United States
FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared Tuesday that Iran “will be at the World Cup” and will play their group matches in the United States as scheduled, despite ongoing regional conflict. Speaking at halftime during Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey, Infantino stated his confidence in the team’s participation.
“That’s why we’re here. We’re delighted because they’re a very, very strong team, I’m very happy,” Infantino said. “I’ve seen the team, I’ve spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine.”
The FIFA president emphasized that Iran’s “matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.” The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, begins on June 11. Iran faces New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by matches against Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 27.
Iran’s participation had faced uncertainty following the Middle East conflict that erupted on February 28. The Iranian football federation previously negotiated with FIFA to relocate group matches from the United States to Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum indicated her country’s willingness to host Iran’s first-round matches if needed.
Infantino initially cited assurances from US President Donald Trump regarding the Iranian team’s welcome. Trump subsequently contradicted this, stating that Iran’s team should not travel “for their own life and safety.” Iran responded sharply, declaring that “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup.”
On March 19, Infantino reaffirmed FIFA’s commitment to proceeding “as scheduled” with “all teams” participating. “FIFA can’t solve geopolitical conflicts, but we are committed to using the power of football and the World Cup to build bridges and promote peace as our thoughts are with those who are suffering as a consequence of the ongoing wars,” he stated from Zurich during an online FIFA Council meeting.
Iran also competed in a friendly against Nigeria in Turkish town Belek on the previous Friday. Players wore black armbands and held school rucksacks during the national anthem to commemorate victims of an airstrike on a primary school in Iran on February 28. The strike on the school in southern Iran’s Minab killed at least 170 people, including students and teachers. Preliminary findings from a US military investigation indicated a US Tomahawk cruise missile struck the school due to a targeting error.