FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will take part in the 2026 World Cup, despite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking at an economic conference organised by CNBC, Infantino said Iran’s participation is not in doubt.
“Iran is coming for sure,” he stated, expressing hope that the situation in the region would have stabilised by the time the tournament begins.
“They have qualified, they represent their people, and the players want to play,” he added, underlining that the team’s involvement is based on merit, not politics.
Iran is scheduled to play its Group G matches in the United States, with two fixtures set for Los Angeles and another in Seattle.
The team will be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the tournament.
Concerns had been raised earlier about whether Iran would be able to participate, following the outbreak of conflict involving the United States and Israel in late February.
At one point, Iranian officials even floated the idea of boycotting the competition and requested that their matches be moved to Mexico an appeal FIFA ultimately rejected.
While a fragile truce has been in place since early April, tensions remain high, particularly around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The United States has also imposed a blockade on vessels linked to Iranian ports, adding to the uncertainty.
Still, Infantino stressed that football should rise above geopolitical disputes. “Sport should be outside of politics,” he said, noting that FIFA’s role is to promote unity and connection, even in difficult times.
The 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to kick off on June 11 and will be the first edition to feature 48 teams.
