FIFA President Confirms Iran's World Cup Participation Despite War

Infantino says Iranian team will compete in 2026 tournament co-hosted by U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:18am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstract soccer match between the Iranian and American national teams, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes in a chaotic, multi-perspective composition.The geopolitical tensions between Iran and the U.S. are set aside as their national soccer teams prepare to face off on the global stage of the 2026 World Cup.Inglewood Today

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup 'for sure' 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 'sports should be outside of politics now.' The U.S. will co-host the World Cup with Canada and Mexico, and Iran is scheduled to play group-stage games in Inglewood, California, and Seattle.

Why it matters

Iran's participation in the World Cup has been in doubt due to the war with the U.S. and Israel, but Infantino's comments suggest FIFA is committed to keeping politics out of the tournament and allowing the Iranian team to compete. This decision could have broader implications for international sports and diplomacy.

The details

Infantino met with the Iranian national team in Antalya, Turkey, two weeks ago and said he was impressed with the quality of the team. He emphasized that 'sports should be outside of politics now' and that FIFA is working to 'build bridges' and keep them 'intact and together' despite the ongoing conflict.

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

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

“'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 draw will take place in the coming months, determining the specific group-stage matchups for the participating teams, including Iran.

The takeaway

Infantino's comments demonstrate FIFA's commitment to keeping politics out of the World Cup and allowing all qualified teams, including Iran, to participate. This decision could help promote international cooperation and diplomacy through the unifying power of sports.