FIFA president Gianni Infantino says Iran’s World Cup participation remains the governing body’s position, despite concerns over the Middle East war. Speaking to AFP on Tuesday, Infantino said Iran would take part in the tournament and play its group-stage matches in the United States as scheduled.
Infantino made the remarks at half-time of Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey. He said he had met the players and coaching staff and added that “everything is fine.” He also stressed that Iran’s matches would be played where they were assigned in the draw.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, is due to begin on June 11. Iran is scheduled to open Group G against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They will then face Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 27.
That schedule had come under scrutiny after the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran raised questions over whether the Iranian team would travel to the US for the tournament.
Why Iran’s World Cup Status Came into Question
Earlier this month, the Iranian football federation said it was in talks with FIFA about moving the country’s World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said Mexico was ready to host Iran’s first-round matches if needed.
Infantino had previously said US President Donald Trump had assured FIFA that Iran’s national team would still be welcome. However, Trump later said the team should not travel “for their own life and safety.” Iran rejected that view, saying no one could exclude its national team from the World Cup.
Read: Iran Football Team Holds Schoolbags in Protest
On March 19, Infantino said FIFA was committed to ensuring the World Cup would go ahead “as scheduled” with “all teams” participating. He added that while FIFA cannot solve geopolitical conflicts, it wants football to help “build bridges and promote peace.”
Iran also played Nigeria in a friendly in Belek, Turkey, last Friday. During that match, Iran’s players wore black armbands and posed with school rucksacks during the national anthem to honour victims of a strike on a primary school in Minab.
According to the report, the February 28 strike killed at least 170 people, including students and teachers. The New York Times later reported that preliminary findings from a US military investigation indicated a US Tomahawk cruise missile hit the school because of a targeting mistake
