Infantino Confirms Iran's Participation in 2026 World Cup

Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, has confirmed that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup matches in the United States, dismissing concerns regarding the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. This announcement came during a friendly match between Iran and Costa Rica on Tuesday.

Infantino emphasized that Iran is set to co-host the tournament alongside the USA, Mexico, and Canada, which begins on June 11, 2026. Iran's group G campaign is scheduled to start on June 15, 2026, against New Zealand in Los Angeles, followed by matches against Belgium on June 21 and Egypt on June 27 in Seattle.

Despite previous doubts about Iran's involvement, including a warning from former President Donald Trump regarding travel to the tournament, Infantino reiterated FIFA's stance during an online council meeting in Zurich on March 19. The Iranian Football Federation had earlier revealed that FIFA was considering moving matches to Mexico, but the country is prepared to host Iran's fixtures.