The Iranian national football team has officially confirmed its participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins on June 11 at the renowned Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Following the successful approval of their US entry visas, the squad departed Turkey on Saturday en route to Mexico.
Iran’s first Group G match is scheduled for June 15 in the United States, with the remainder of their group-stage games also set to take place in various US host cities. Despite initial political tensions and protests related to the fixtures, the Iranian team will establish their main training base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, traveling into the US for their matches.
In a significant development, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, an expansion from the 32 teams in previous tournaments. These teams are divided into 12 groups labeled A through L, each containing four teams. Every team will compete in three group-stage matches before advancing to the knockout rounds.
The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the knockout stage, totaling 24 teams. They will be joined by the eight best third-placed teams, increasing the knockout phase to 32 teams. The knockout rounds will proceed in a single-elimination format, including the Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off, and the final.
The 2026 tournament is notable for being the first World Cup co-hosted by three nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Matches will be held across 16 host cities, with the US hosting the majority of games, including all quarter-finals onward and the final. Mexico will host the opening match at Estadio Azteca, while Canada will hold group-stage and select matches in its cities.
Overall, the World Cup will feature 104 matches over the course of the competition, spanning from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Teams reaching the final will play eight matches, one more than in previous editions under the 32-team format.
