FIFA Chief Says Iran Will 'For Sure' Play in World Cup

Infantino says soccer's governing body 'believes in building bridges'

Apr. 16, 2026 at 3:40am

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A cubist, geometric painting in shades of red, white, blue, green, and red, breaking down a soccer match or competition between the United States and Iran into sharp, overlapping angular shapes, conceptually representing the complex geopolitical tensions between the two countries.The complex geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran are reflected in the fractured, multi-perspective depiction of a potential World Cup matchup between the two nations.Inglewood Today

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup, despite the ongoing war between Iran and the United States. Infantino met with the Iranian national team and was impressed, saying 'they are actually quite a good team' and that 'they really want to play and they should play'.

Why it matters

Iran's participation in the World Cup has been in doubt due to the war with the US and Israel, but Infantino's comments suggest FIFA is committed to keeping politics out of the tournament and allowing all qualified teams to compete.

The details

Infantino said it is important that Iran participates in the World Cup, even though their participation has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on the country. He met with the Iranian national team in Turkey and was impressed, saying they are a good team and really want to play. Infantino acknowledged it's not always possible to achieve the separation of sports and politics, but said '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 President of FIFA, the international governing body of association football, futsal, and beach soccer.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who discouraged the Iranian team from attending the World Cup, citing 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

“OK we don't live on the moon, we live on planet Earth. But you know 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.”

— Gianni Infantino, FIFA President

What’s next

The 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Iran scheduled to play two group-stage games in Inglewood, California, and one in Seattle. FIFA and the participating teams will continue to monitor the situation between Iran and the US in the lead-up to the tournament.

The takeaway

Despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions, FIFA remains committed to keeping politics out of the World Cup and allowing all qualified teams, including Iran, to participate. This reflects the organization's belief in the power of sports to bring people together and build bridges, even in challenging times.