According to SPORTbible, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has officially confirmed Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, with the nation set to play all three of its Group G matches on United States soil. The announcement, made at a FIFA congress in Vancouver on Thursday, comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
FIFA’s call for unity
Infantino emphasized FIFA’s commitment to global unity as the basis for the decision. Speaking at the congress, he said: “Of course, Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026. And of course, Iran will play in the United States of America.”
He added: “The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together. There are enough problems around the world. There are enough people who try to divide all over the world. If nobody tries to unite, what will happen to our world? We have to do it, and we have this opportunity.”
SPORTbible reported that this position aligns with comments made earlier this year by Iran’s sports minister, who said the country would “under no circumstances” withdraw from the tournament.
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US political landscape and security concerns
The decision has also drawn reaction from US President Donald Trump, who was asked about Infantino’s remarks during a White House media conference. He said: “Well if Gianni said it, I’m OK. Did Gianni say it? Gianni Infantino – that’s a piece of work.”
Trump added: “Let them play. Gianni is fantastic. He’s a friend of mine. He talked about it, I said, ‘You do whatever you want.'” He also joked: “If they win, we’ll have to worry about that.”
According to SPORTbible, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently confirmed that individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would not be allowed entry into the United States. The US designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation in 2019.
These restrictions underline the political sensitivities surrounding Iran’s participation, even as FIFA pushes a message of inclusion through sport.
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Iran’s sporting prospects
From a footballing perspective, Iran enters the tournament as a strong contender. As SPORTbible noted, they were among the first teams to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Asian Cup.
Drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, Iran holds a higher FIFA ranking than both Egypt and New Zealand, which could improve their chances of advancing. With the expanded tournament allowing up to three teams from each group to progress, Iran will be aiming to reach the knockout stages.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to begin in June.
Sources: www.sportbible.com
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