FIFA Chief Confirms Iran Will Play World Cup on U.S. Soil

Clear Facts

• FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed Iran will compete in the 2026 World Cup as scheduled in the United States despite ongoing Middle East conflict
• Iran requested to move its games to Mexico but FIFA rejected the request, insisting all matches be played at SoFi Stadium in California and Lumen Field in Seattle
• President Trump has stated Iran’s team is welcome to compete, though he questioned whether their participation is appropriate given current circumstances

FIFA President Gianni Infantino delivered a clear message Wednesday: Iran will compete in the World Cup this summer in the United States as originally scheduled, regardless of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving American forces.

The Iranian national team qualified for the tournament, which begins in June across host nations including the United States, Mexico, and Canada. All three of Iran’s group stage matches are scheduled to be played on American soil, raising questions about whether the Islamic Republic would participate given the current geopolitical tensions.

Iranian government officials attempted to circumvent the issue by requesting FIFA relocate their matches to Mexico, citing concerns about traveling to the United States. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that FIFA firmly rejected this request, maintaining that Iran must play where scheduled: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and Lumen Field in Seattle.

“The Iranian team is coming, for sure,” Infantino stated during the CNBC Invest in America Forum in Washington, D.C.

“We hope that, by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation. That would definitely help. But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”

The FIFA president made a personal visit to the Iranian national team’s training camp in Antalya, Turkey, last month to assess the situation firsthand.

“They were having a training camp in Antalya,” Infantino explained about his trip. “And they really want to play. And they should play. Sports should be outside of politics.”

Iran’s tournament schedule has them facing New Zealand at SoFi Stadium on June 16 in their opening match. They will also meet Belgium at the same venue before concluding group play against Egypt and star player Mo Salah in Seattle on June 26.

President Donald Trump addressed the matter last month through a Truth Social post, indicating that while Iran’s team would be welcome to compete as scheduled, their participation might not be “appropriate” considering the ongoing conflict.

“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” he wrote.

When pressed further about Iran’s participation during an interview with Politico, Trump responded, “I really don’t care.”

Infantino, who maintains a strong working relationship with the President, confirmed that Trump has “reiterated” to him that the United States welcomes Iran’s team to compete in the tournament.

The situation highlights the complex intersection of international sports and geopolitics, with FIFA standing firm on its principle that qualified teams should compete regardless of political circumstances. The decision ensures that Iranian players, who earned their spot through athletic merit, will have the opportunity to represent their nation on the world stage.

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