FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has confirmed that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup and play all their group-stage matches in the United States despite tensions surrounding the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Speaking to AFP during half-time of Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey on Tuesday, Infantino dismissed suggestions that Iran’s participation was under threat.
“Iran will be at the World Cup,” Infantino said.
“That’s why we’re here. We’re delighted because they’re a very, very strong team, I’m very happy.”
“I’ve seen the team, I’ve spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine,” added Infantino, whose attendance at Tuesday’s game was unannounced.
He also insisted that Iran’s fixtures would remain unchanged.
“matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw”.
The 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, is scheduled to begin on June 11.
Iran are due to open their Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They will then face Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 27.
Iran’s involvement in the tournament had been questioned following the conflict involving the US and Israel, which began on February 28.
Earlier this month, the Iranian football federation revealed it had been “negotiating” with FIFA over the possibility of moving the country’s matches from the United States to Mexico.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said Mexico was ready to host Iran’s group-stage matches if required.
Infantino had earlier stated that US President Donald Trump assured him Iran’s team would still be allowed into the country for the tournament.
However, Trump later suggested Iran should avoid travelling to the competition “for their own life and safety”.
Iran responded strongly to those remarks, insisting that “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup”.
On March 19, Infantino reiterated FIFA’s determination to ensure the competition proceeds as planned.
“FIFA is looking forward to all teams participating at the World Cup to compete in a spirit of fair play and mutual respect,” Infantino said from Zurich during an online FIFA Council meeting.
“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,” added Infantino.
Iran also faced Nigeria in a friendly in the Turkish town of Belek last Friday.
Before that match, Iran’s players wore black armbands and posed with school bags during the national anthem in tribute to victims of an airstrike on a primary school in Iran on the opening day of the Middle East conflict.
The strike, which hit a school in the southern Iranian city of Minab on February 28, reportedly killed at least 170 people, including students and teachers.
According to The New York Times, preliminary findings from a US military investigation suggest a US Tomahawk cruise missile struck the school because of a targeting error.
