FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that Iran will take part in the 2026 World Cup in North America despite the ongoing war in the Middle East, insisting that “the Iranian team is coming for sure.”
His comments come after weeks of uncertainty around Iran’s participation, which has been questioned since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on 28 February. Conflicting public statements from Iranian authorities and football officials, along with U.S. President Donald Trump discouraging Iran’s appearance over safety concerns, have added to the doubt.
Speaking at CNBC’s Invest in America Forum, Infantino said it is important that Iran competes and that sport should help “build bridges.” He added that he hopes the situation will be peaceful by the time the tournament begins. “The Iranian team is coming for sure, yes,” he said.
Infantino noted he met Iran’s national team in Antalya, Turkey, two weeks ago and said the players want to play and represent their supporters.
What officials say
The FIFA chief framed participation as a principle, saying sport should remain outside politics, while acknowledging that such separation is not always achievable. “We don’t live on the Moon,” he said, adding that FIFA aims to keep bridges intact even amid conflict.
The United States will co-host the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico. Iran is currently scheduled to play two group-stage matches in the U.S., one in Inglewood, California, and another in Seattle.
Infantino did not outline additional security or logistical details. It remains unclear how the war and related safety concerns could affect preparations, but FIFA’s position as stated Wednesday is that Iran’s team will participate.
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