FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that Iran will “for sure” participate in the 2026 World Cup despite the war in Iran.
“Iran is coming for sure. We hope that by then the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help,” Infantino told the US business news channel CNBC.
“But Iran has to come, they represent their people, they have qualified, the players want to play,” he said of the team’s upcoming matches scheduled in the United States in June.
The World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, starts on June 11.
There have been conflicting comments from Iranian government and soccer officials about the team’s participation.
US President Donald Trump discouraged the Iranian team from attending the tournament, citing safety concerns.
Iran is scheduled to play two group-stage games in Inglewood, California, and one in Seattle. It has called for its games to be relocated to Mexico, a request rejected by FIFA.
