FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that Iran will take part in the 2026 World Cup despite the conflict involving Iran and the United States. Speaking at a public event, he said Iran has qualified, the players want to compete, and FIFA believes the team should be there.
The tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 through July 19. Iran’s group-stage matches are still set for U.S. venues, including two games in Inglewood, California, and one in Seattle.
The situation had raised questions in recent weeks after Iranian officials pushed for those matches to be moved to Mexico because of security concerns tied to the war. That led to uncertainty over whether Iran’s place in the tournament could be affected.
Infantino’s latest comments offer the clearest sign yet that FIFA intends to keep Iran in the competition as planned. For now, the governing body appears committed to moving forward with the current schedule while the wider political tension continues.
