The Iranian men’s soccer team is set to play in the World Cup in the United States this summer, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed on Thursday as the war in the Middle East remains unresolved.
Infantino made the announcement in Canada at the FIFA Congress. Iran was the only nation out of the sports body’s 211 member associations not represented at the annual meeting.
“Let me start at the outset, confirming, straight away, for those who want to say something else or write something else, that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said. “And of course Iran will play in the United States of America.”
“The reason for that is very simple,” he said. “Dear friends, it’s because we have to unite, we have to bring people together. It is my responsibility, it is our responsibility — football unites the world, FIFA unites the world, you unite the world, we unite the world.”
Iranian participation in the soccer competition was expected, but the country’s soccer federation said its players will not be sent to the U.S. if their safety could not be guaranteed. For that reason, Iran requested to move their games to Mexico. FIFA rejected that request due to a logistical problem.
“FIFA ultimately decided that the matches cannot be moved from their original venues,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said earlier this month.
Iran is slated to play New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The whole competition will last over a month, from June 11 to July 19.
President Donald Trump was somewhat opposed to the Iranian men’s soccer team’s participation in the FIFA World Cup last month when he said it wouldn’t be “appropriate” if they were present, although he noted they would be “welcome” to play. His stance drew criticism from Iranian soccer chief Mehdi Taj, who expressed safety concerns over his players’ presence in the U.S.
Trump later amended his stance. He said he’s “OK” on Thursday with the Iranian team playing if the FIFA president said yes.
“If Gianni said it, I am OK,” Trump said during a bill signing.
CANADIAN AUTHORITIES DENY FIFA PRESIDENT POLICE ESCORT AHEAD OF WORLD CUP MEETINGS
Taj was denied entry to Canada this week ahead of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, likely due to his past association with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain incredibly high, even as a fragile ceasefire has been extended indefinitely by Trump. Negotiations to end the war are currently stalled.