FIFA President Gianni Infantino has once again stated that Iran’s football team will travel to the United States and play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This confirmation comes at a time when tensions—and even conflict—are ongoing between the US and Iran.
Iran’s participation in the sports world had come under doubt, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino has made it clear that Iran will travel to the United States to play football.
Speaking at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Thursday, Gianni Infantino removed the uncertainty that had arisen since February due to the conflict between the United States and Iran over whether Iran would participate or not.
Infantino said in his remarks that he has been saying from the beginning that Iran will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and his statement was welcomed with applause by the delegates.
Among FIFA’s 211 member associations, Iran was the only country not present at the meeting, as it decided not to attend after one member of its delegation was denied entry into Canada.
US President Donald Trump said, ‘If FIFA’s Infantino has said so, then I have no problem with it.’ He also added that he believes they should be allowed to play.”
Photo: @X/Clash Report
Iran’s group-stage matches are scheduled to be played in Inglewood, California, and one match in Seattle, Washington.
Iran’s first match will be against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles.
Iran and the United States are not in the same group. However, if both teams finish in second position in their respective groups, then a match between Iran and the USA could take place.
If both teams finish in those positions, their first match against each other could take place on July 3.
This match will be played in Arlington, Texas.
Right now, nothing can be said for sure about whether a match between the United States and Iran will take place. Both teams would first need to reach that stage under specific conditions, and only then could such a match happen. At the moment, nothing is certain.
A total of 48 teams will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
