Newsletters
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, stating the team is “coming for sure” despite ongoing tensions linked to the U.S.-Iran war.
Iran was among the earliest teams to qualify for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
However, its participation had been thrown into doubt following the outbreak of conflict between the United States and Iran.
Statements from both sides had added to the uncertainty. Iran’s sports minister previously indicated that participation would not be possible under current conditions, while U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the team would be welcome but raised safety concerns.
Speaking in Washington, D.C., Infantino expressed hope that conditions would stabilize before the tournament begins, while acknowledging the realities of global tensions. He said sport should remain outside political disputes, even if that ideal is not always fully achievable.
He added that FIFA is working to maintain connections between countries through football, framing the tournament as an opportunity to keep international engagement intact rather than allow divisions to deepen.
Infantino also revealed that he recently met Iran’s national team during a training camp in Antalya, Türkiye, where players signaled their intention to compete.
Iran is scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches in the United States, facing New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before taking on Egypt in Seattle. Should the team advance, further matches would also likely take place in the U.S.
Iran’s football federation had requested that its matches be moved to Mexico, another host nation, but that request was declined by FIFA.
The 2026 tournament is set to be the largest in FIFA history, both in scale and commercial reach, with projected revenues exceeding $11 billion.
At the same time, organizers are facing concerns over ticket pricing and the safety of fans traveling from around the world.
Infantino pointed to exceptionally strong demand, noting that hundreds of millions of ticket requests have been submitted globally, reflecting widespread interest in the tournament.
He emphasized that security remains a central priority, stating that a successful World Cup would be defined by both safe operations and high-quality football on the field, with no major incidents and strong engagement from fans.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
