FIFA Chief Confirms Iran Will Participate in 2026 World Cup

Despite ongoing tensions, FIFA President Gianni Infantino says Iran's national team will compete in the upcoming tournament.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:13pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstract soccer match between Iran and the United States, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and the ball and field lines cutting across the canvas in dynamic, intersecting lines.The 2026 World Cup will bring nations together on the pitch, even as political tensions simmer off the field.Inglewood Today

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Infantino met with the Iranian national team in Turkey and was impressed by their quality, stating that 'they really want to play and they should play' despite the ongoing political tensions between Iran and the U.S.

Why it matters

Iran's participation in the World Cup has been in doubt due to the ongoing war between Iran and the United States. However, Infantino's assurance that the Iranian team will compete is seen as an important step in keeping sports separate from politics, even in times of international conflict.

The details

Infantino said that Iran is scheduled to play two group-stage games in Inglewood, California, and one in Seattle during the 2026 World Cup. He acknowledged that it is not always possible to completely separate sports from politics, but stated that 'if there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them, you know, intact and together, well we are doing that job.'

  • Infantino met with the Iranian national team in Antalya, Turkey, two weeks ago.
  • The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to take place.

The players

Gianni Infantino

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

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who previously discouraged the Iranian team from attending the World Cup due to safety concerns.

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What they’re saying

“The Iranian team is coming for sure, yes. We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation. As I said, that would definitely help. But Iran has to come. Of course, they represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”

— Gianni Infantino, FIFA President

What’s next

The 2026 World Cup draw will take place in the coming months, at which point the specific match-ups and locations for Iran's group-stage games will be determined.

The takeaway

Despite the ongoing political tensions between Iran and the United States, FIFA's commitment to keeping sports separate from politics has ensured that Iran's national team will be able to participate in the 2026 World Cup, allowing the players to represent their country on the global stage.