FIFA President Infantino Vows Iran Will Play in 2026 World Cup

Despite U.S. tensions, Infantino says Iranian team will participate 'for sure'

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:07am

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A cubist-style painting depicting an abstract soccer match, with the ball as the central focus surrounded by sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a chaotic composition, conveying the tension and complexity of the political situation surrounding the event.As geopolitical tensions rise, the 2026 World Cup match between Iran and the U.S. is depicted through a fractured, cubist lens, highlighting the complex interplay between sports and global politics.Inglewood Today

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has stated that the Iranian national soccer team will compete in the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This comes despite concerns raised by U.S. President Donald Trump about the safety of Iran's participation amid ongoing tensions between the two countries.

Why it matters

The inclusion of Iran in the World Cup has become a politically charged issue, with the U.S. government expressing reservations about the team's participation. Infantino's firm commitment to Iran's involvement underscores FIFA's stance that sports should remain separate from politics whenever possible.

The details

Infantino met with the Iranian national team in Turkey two weeks ago and was impressed by their quality. He stated that 'the Iranian team is coming for sure' and that 'they really want to play and they should play.' The Iranian team is scheduled to play two group-stage games in Inglewood, California, and one in Seattle during the 2026 World Cup.

  • 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 has discouraged the Iranian team from attending the 2026 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 late 2025, at which point the specific matchups and locations for Iran's group-stage games will be determined.

The takeaway

Infantino's firm stance on Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup, despite political tensions with the U.S., underscores FIFA's commitment to keeping sports separate from geopolitics whenever possible. This decision could have broader implications for the role of international sporting events in diplomacy and conflict resolution.