FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will still play their group-stage matches in the United States, despite growing tension caused by the ongoing Middle East war.
Speaking during Iran’s friendly match against Costa Rica in Turkey, Infantino made it clear that there is no change to the current tournament arrangement. According to him, Iran’s matches will go ahead exactly as scheduled and in the venues already assigned after the World Cup draw.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is set to begin on June 11, with Iran scheduled to open their Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They are also expected to face Belgium and Egypt in the group stage.
Iran’s participation had recently become a major talking point after the outbreak of war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, which sparked fears over whether the team would be allowed—or even willing—to play in America. The Iranian Football Federation had reportedly explored the possibility of moving the team’s World Cup games to Mexico instead.
Even Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had indicated that Mexico would be willing to host Iran’s first-round matches if the need arose. But Infantino’s latest comments appear to have shut down that conversation, at least for now.
This latest statement also comes after conflicting remarks from US President Donald Trump. While Infantino had earlier suggested Trump gave assurances that Iran would be welcome at the tournament, Trump later reportedly said the Iranian team should avoid travelling “for their own life and safety.”
Despite the political tension, FIFA has continued to maintain that the World Cup will go on as planned, with all qualified teams taking part. Infantino also repeated FIFA’s position that football should remain a platform for unity, even in the middle of global conflict.
In the meantime, Iran’s national team has continued with preparations. The team recently played friendly matches in Turkey and also used one of the occasions to honour victims of a deadly strike back home, showing just how much emotion and political weight now surrounds their World Cup journey.