Gianni Infantino reveals Donald Trump’s decision on Iran and the 2026 FIFA World Cup

March 12, 2026 Oliver Obel

US President Donald Trump has indicated that Iran’s national football team will be allowed to compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The decision follows a meeting between Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino earlier this week, where preparations for the upcoming tournament were discussed. The 2026 World Cup will begin in June and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Infantino shared details of the conversation in a post on Instagram, explaining that the Iranian team’s qualification and participation were part of the discussion.

“This evening, I met with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and the growing excitement as we are set to kick off in just 93 days,” Infantino wrote.

“We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026.”

“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”

Infantino added that the tournament carries symbolic importance during times of global tension.

“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.”

Uncertainty After Military Escalation

Questions about Iran’s participation had emerged following recent military escalation in the region. Two weeks ago, the United States and Israel carried out a joint strike against Iran, an operation Trump described as involving “major combat operations.”

After the attack, the US president also called for regime change in Tehran.

The developments prompted uncertainty about whether Iran would ultimately take part in the tournament, which will feature 48 teams for the first time in World Cup history.

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, suggested shortly after the strike that the situation could affect the country’s ability to compete.

“With what happened today and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the World Cup, but the sports chiefs are the ones who must decide on that,” Taj said.

FIFA Maintains Tournament Schedule

Despite the political tensions, FIFA officials have indicated that the tournament itself will not be delayed.

Speaking to reporters, FIFA chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi said the organization expects the competition to proceed as planned.

“At some stage, we will have a resolution, and the World Cup will go on, obviously,” Schirgi said. “The World Cup is too big, and we hope that everyone can participate that has qualified.”

Some media reports had speculated that Iran could potentially be replaced if the situation worsened, with the United Arab Emirates and Iraq mentioned as possible alternatives. Others questioned whether the tournament could face delays if the conflict escalated further.

For now, however, FIFA’s position remains that qualified teams should be able to compete.

Iran’s Scheduled Matches

If the tournament schedule remains unchanged, Iran will play all three of their group-stage matches in the United States. Two of those games are currently scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, with the third set for Seattle.

Trump had previously taken a harsher tone when asked about Iran’s participation, telling reporters last week: “I really don't care.”

“I think Iran is a very badly defeated country,” he added. “They're running on fumes.”

Infantino’s comments following the meeting suggest the US administration is now prepared to allow Iran to take part in the competition despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Sources: FIFA statements, Gianni Infantino Instagram, media reports.