Infantino confirms that Iran will participate in FIFA World Cup 2026 FIFA president Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play at this year’s World Cup on Thursday as he addressed the global football governing body’s Congress in Vancouver.
“Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said as he opened his address to delegates. “And of course, Iran will play in the United States of America.”
READ | Canadian official backs up report that Iranian football chiefs were denied entry for FIFA event
The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will require teams, officials and support staff to move repeatedly between jurisdictions, raising the prospect that visa restrictions or diplomatic frictions could complicate planning for certain nations.
Iran secured a trip to a fourth successive World Cup by topping Group A in the third round of Asian qualifying last year, but Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said the viciousness of the attacks by U.S. and Israeli forces did not augur well for the World Cup, to be held from June 11 to July 19.
Iran is grouped with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G. Its matches are scheduled to take place in the U.S., two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
If both the U.S. and Iran finish second in their respective groups, the two countries could meet in a July 3 elimination match in Dallas.
But Iran’s participation has been fraught, with Tehran requesting alternative venues for matches on U.S. soil.
FIFA has rejected the request, insisting the schedule would stand.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week Washington had no objections to Iranian players participating in the World Cup but added that the players would not be allowed to bring with them people with ties to the IRGC.
With inputs from Reuters
Published on Apr 30, 2026
#Infantino #confirms #Iran #participate #FIFA #World #Cup
FIFA president Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play at this year’s World Cup on Thursday as he addressed the global football governing body’s Congress in Vancouver.
“Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said as he opened his address to delegates. “And of course, Iran will play in the United States of America.”
READ | Canadian official backs up report that Iranian football chiefs were denied entry for FIFA event
The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will require teams, officials and support staff to move repeatedly between jurisdictions, raising the prospect that visa restrictions or diplomatic frictions could complicate planning for certain nations.
Iran secured a trip to a fourth successive World Cup by topping Group A in the third round of Asian qualifying last year, but Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said the viciousness of the attacks by U.S. and Israeli forces did not augur well for the World Cup, to be held from June 11 to July 19.
Iran is grouped with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G. Its matches are scheduled to take place in the U.S., two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
If both the U.S. and Iran finish second in their respective groups, the two countries could meet in a July 3 elimination match in Dallas.
But Iran’s participation has been fraught, with Tehran requesting alternative venues for matches on U.S. soil.
FIFA has rejected the request, insisting the schedule would stand.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week Washington had no objections to Iranian players participating in the World Cup but added that the players would not be allowed to bring with them people with ties to the IRGC.
With inputs from Reuters
Published on Apr 30, 2026


Post Comment