FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirms that U.S. President Donald Trump has assured Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup despite escalating tensions.
Recent Developments Amid Conflict
Iran’s qualification for the tournament faces uncertainty following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with attacks on U.S. military bases in the Middle East. Iran’s football federation president, Mehdi Taj, indicated the nation might withdraw from the event. Earlier reports quoted Trump as saying he “did not care” about their involvement.
Infantino, who presented Trump with FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize three months ago, met with the president on Tuesday to review tournament preparations. In an Instagram statement, Infantino noted discussions on the Iranian situation and the team’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino wrote.
Infantino emphasized the tournament’s unifying role: “We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World.”
Tournament Schedule and Iran’s Matches
The 2026 World Cup spans the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June and July. Iran sits in Group G and will play three matches on U.S. soil: against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, respectively, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
