FIFA President Gianni Infantino has assured that Iran will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the ongoing conflict involving the country. Speaking at CNBC’s Invest in America Forum on April 15, 2026, Infantino emphasized that Iran’s presence in the tournament is confirmed and important for the sport.
Infantino stated, “The Iranian team is coming for sure,” highlighting that Iran earned its place through qualification. He added that the Iranian players are eager to compete and represent their nation on the global stage. The FIFA chief also expressed hope for a peaceful situation by the time of the tournament but stressed that the team’s participation should not be hindered by political tensions.
Two weeks prior, Infantino met with the Iranian men’s national team during a visit to Antalya, Turkey, praising their skill and determination to play. “They are actually quite a good team as well, and they really want to play and they should play,” he said, underscoring the ideal that sports should remain separate from political conflicts.
However, Infantino acknowledged that completely extricating sports from political realities can be challenging, especially considering the current geopolitical circumstances involving Iran, the U.S., and Israel.
Political and Security Concerns Surrounding Iran’s Participation
The U.S. is among the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada, and Iran is scheduled to play all three of its group stage matches on U.S. soil—two at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Security concerns have arisen due to escalating tensions following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered mixed messages regarding Iran’s involvement. In March 2026, he initially welcomed Iran to participate during a White House meeting with FIFA officials but later expressed reservations on social media, citing safety risks for the Iranian team. Following these remarks, Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj indicated that Iran was seeking to relocate its matches to Mexico if security in the U.S. could not be guaranteed.
Taj stated that Iran would not travel to the U.S. if assurances of the team’s safety were not provided, reflecting the broader concerns amid the current conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
Why it matters
The confirmation of Iran’s participation underscores FIFA’s commitment to inclusivity in global sports, even amid geopolitical conflict. It highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran that impact international events and raises questions about the logistics and security arrangements necessary to ensure the safety of all participants in the tournament.
Background
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, marking the first tournament featuring an expanded 48-team format. Iran’s national team secured qualification under normal sporting criteria. However, the geopolitical climate has intensified since military actions involving the U.S. and Israel against Iran, complicating scheduling and participation logistics for the Iranian team.
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