Iran Soccer Players Meet FIFA Head Infantino Before World Cup Warmup

FIFA President promises to 'continue to support' Iran's World Cup preparations amid geopolitical tensions.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 8:53pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, angular shapes and colors, depicting the Iranian national soccer team's warmup match against Costa Rica in a cubist, deconstructed style.Amid geopolitical tensions, the Iranian national soccer team's warmup match against Costa Rica takes on a fragmented, cubist energy as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.Inglewood Today

FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with the Iranian national soccer team on Tuesday in Turkey, where the team was playing a warmup match against Costa Rica ahead of the upcoming World Cup. Infantino promised to 'continue to support' Iran's preparations for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Why it matters

The meeting comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions between Iran and the U.S. and Israel, which have launched airstrikes on Iran in recent weeks. There have been doubts about Iran's participation in the World Cup due to the conflict, with Iranian officials suggesting moving the team's group stage games to Mexico. Infantino's visit and promise of support aim to reassure Iran that they will be able to participate in the tournament as planned.

The details

During the meeting, the Iranian players and officials, including coach Amir Ghalenoei and federation vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, posed with pictures of children allegedly killed by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes since February 28th. The players also held small backpacks on Friday before another warmup against Nigeria, to honor the victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school in southern Iran that killed more than 165 people, most of them children.

  • On March 31, 2026, FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with the Iranian national soccer team in Antalya, Turkey.
  • The meeting took place before Iran's warmup match against Costa Rica.

The players

Gianni Infantino

The current President of FIFA, the international governing body of association football, futsal, and beach soccer.

Amir Ghalenoei

The head coach of the Iranian national soccer team.

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi

The vice president of the Iranian Football Federation.

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What they’re saying

“'FIFA will continue to support the team to ensure the best possible conditions as they prepare for the World Cup.'”

— Gianni Infantino, FIFA President

What’s next

The Iranian national team is scheduled to play two group-stage games in Inglewood, California, and one in Seattle during the upcoming World Cup.

The takeaway

Infantino's meeting with the Iranian team and his promise of continued support aim to provide reassurance and stability amid the geopolitical tensions that have raised doubts about Iran's participation in the World Cup. The gesture underscores FIFA's commitment to ensuring all qualified teams can compete in the tournament as planned.