01/05/2026
Iran to play World Cup games in USA as planned insists FIFA president Infantino
Iran will play their World Cup matches in the United States, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has insisted.
Iran's participation has been the subject of uncertainty since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on the country on February 28.
The country's football association officials were the only one of FIFA's 211 member nations absent from Thursday's FIFA congress in Vancouver.
Infantino opened his congress address by insisting the Iranian team would participate at the finals in north America.
"Let me start at the outset by confirming straight away, for those who maybe want to say something else or write something else, that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026," Infantino said, to cheers from the assembled delegates.
"And of course, Iran will play in the USA. The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together."
However, back in March, Iran's sports minister ruled out participating in the World Cup.