FIFA President Gianni Infantino has backed Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stating that the team will feature in the tournament despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and security concerns.
Speaking at CNBC’s Invest in America Forum on Wednesday, Infantino dismissed doubts over Iran’s involvement following recent tensions involving the United States and Israel.
“The Iranian team is coming for sure,” Infantino said, as quoted by CBS News. “We hope that by then the situation will be peaceful. That would definitely help. But Iran has to come. They represent their people, they have qualified, and the players want to play.”
Infantino, who recently met the Iranian squad in Antalya, Turkey, underlined both their quality and desire to compete. “I went to see them. They are actually quite a good team as well, and they really want to play. Sports should be outside of politics,” he said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature 104 matches, beginning in Mexico City on June 11 and concluding with the final in New Jersey on July 19.
Iran have qualified for the tournament and are placed in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt. Their matches are currently scheduled to be held in Los Angeles and Seattle.
However, uncertainty over Iran’s participation has grown amid security concerns. Donald Trump, commenting on the issue, initially said Iran would be welcome but later raised concerns about the team’s safety, stating it may not be appropriate for them to travel.
Following these remarks, Mehdi Taj said the country was in talks with FIFA to explore the possibility of playing matches in Mexico.
“When President Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Taj said.
As per the current schedule, Iran’s group-stage fixtures include matches in Los Angeles and Seattle, including at SoFi Stadium.
The 2026 edition will be the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams and 104 matches.
(ANI)
