FIFA president Gianni Infantino affirmed on Wednesday that Iran will definitely take part in the 2026 World Cup, despite ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Speaking at an economic conference, he expressed hope that the situation would be peaceful by the time the tournament begins, which would be beneficial for all involved.
Infantino emphasized that Iran’s participation is assured, noting that the team has qualified and the players are eager to compete. The Iranian squad is set to play three Group G matches in the United States, with two games scheduled in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Their base camp for the tournament will be located in Tucson, Arizona.
Earlier in March, Infantino made similar remarks during an Iran-Costa Rica friendly match in Antalya, Turkey, despite concerns raised by former US President Donald Trump about the safety of Iranian players in the United States. The upcoming World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, had faced uncertainty regarding Iran’s involvement following the conflict initiated by the US and Israel on February 28.
Iran had initially threatened to boycott the tournament and requested that its matches be relocated from the US to Mexico, a demand FIFA declined. After weeks of airstrikes and retaliatory actions between Iran, Israel, and other regional actors, a fragile truce was established on April 8. However, tensions remain high as Tehran has closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and the US imposed a blockade on maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports starting Monday.
Infantino reiterated the principle that sports should remain separate from political disputes. He stated that if no one else is committed to building and maintaining bridges between nations, FIFA is dedicated to fulfilling that role. The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams and is scheduled to commence on June 11.
