Infantino confirms that Iran will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play at this year’s World Cup on Thursday as he addressed the world football governing body’s congress in Vancouver.

“Let me start from the beginning and immediately confirm that Iran will of course participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” Infantino said as he opened his speech to the delegates. “And of course Iran will play in the United States of America.”

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The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will require teams, officials and support staff to move repeatedly between jurisdictions, raising the prospect that visa restrictions or diplomatic friction could complicate planning for some countries.

Iran secured a trip to a fourth consecutive World Cup by beating Group A in the third round of Asian qualifying last year, but Mehdi Taj, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation, said the ferocity of the attacks by US and Israeli forces does not bode well for the World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19.

Iran is grouped with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G. The matches will take place in the US, two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

If both the US and Iran finish second in their respective groups, the two countries could meet in an elimination match on July 3 in Dallas.

But Iran’s participation was fraught: Tehran asked for alternative locations for matches on American soil.

FIFA rejected the request and emphasized that the schedule will remain in place.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that Washington has no objection to Iranian players participating in the World Cup, but added that the players should not bring people with ties to the IRGC.

With input from Reuters

Published on April 30, 2026