FIFA President Confirms Iran Will Play in 2026 World Cup

Despite ongoing war with the U.S., Iran's national team will participate in the tournament, says FIFA's Infantino.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 6:10pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a soccer match between the United States and Iran, with the players' movements broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, conveying the raw energy and intensity of the game.The political tensions between the U.S. and Iran are set aside as their national soccer teams face off on the field, their movements captured in a cubist, geometric style.Inglewood Today

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated on Wednesday that Iran's national soccer team will 'for sure' participate in the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Infantino acknowledged the political tensions between Iran and the U.S., but emphasized that sports should remain separate from politics and that Iran has qualified for the tournament and its players are eager to compete.

Why it matters

Iran's participation in the World Cup has been in doubt due to the ongoing war between the country and the United States. Infantino's assurance that Iran will play is significant, as it maintains the integrity of the World Cup by including all qualified teams, regardless of geopolitical tensions.

The details

Infantino met with the Iranian national team in Turkey two weeks ago and was impressed by their quality. He stated that while it is not always possible to separate sports from politics, FIFA's role is to 'build bridges' and keep them 'intact and together.' The U.S. President had previously discouraged Iran from attending the tournament, citing safety concerns.

  • Infantino made the comments on Wednesday, April 16, 2026, at CNBC's Invest in America Forum.
  • Infantino met with the Iranian national team in Antalya, Turkey, two weeks prior to his comments.

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 had previously discouraged Iran from attending the 2026 World Cup.

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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

FIFA will continue to work with the Iranian national team and the U.S. government to ensure their safe participation in the 2026 World Cup, despite the ongoing war between the two countries.

The takeaway

Infantino's assurance that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup, despite the political tensions, demonstrates FIFA's commitment to keeping sports separate from geopolitics and maintaining the integrity of the tournament by including all qualified teams.