Will Iran participate in the 2026 World Cup? Government responds after FIFA president says teams will attend International Sports News
Iran is one of 48 confirmed teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and while there was earlier uncertainty over their participation due to security concerns over playing in the United States, the Iranian government now says the country is fully prepared for the tournament.The latest news comes after Iran’s Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali addressed the situation following comments from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who said: “The Iranian team will definitely come.”
FIFA’s position and how the tournament is organized
Gianni Infantino, president of world soccer’s governing body FIFA, addressed the issue at the CNBC Invest in America forum on April 15, confirming that Iran will participate in the World Cup.“The Iranian team will definitely come,” he said, expressing hope that “by then, the situation will be peaceful.”Infantino stressed that the players deserved to take part in the competition, noting that they “represented their people” and earned their place. “They really want to play and they should play,” he added, reiterating his view that sport should remain separate from politics.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino watches a friendly match between Iran and Costa Rica in Antalya, southern Turkey, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Riza Ozel)
This position is consistent with the way the tournament is set up. The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19. It will be the largest World Cup in history, with a total of 48 teams participating in 104 games. 78 of the games will be played in the United States, including every game starting with the quarterfinals and the final at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. Canada and Mexico will host 13 games each, for a total of 16 venues across the three countries, 11 of which are in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada.
Why Iran’s match location is an issue
Iran’s entire group stage schedule is currently scheduled to be in the United States, as the United States is the host country for most of the games. They are in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, and the tournament is scheduled to be played on the West Coast of the United States. Currently, the Iranian team is scheduled to face New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in California on June 16, Belgium at the same venue on June 21, and Egypt at Lumen Stadium in Seattle on June 27. If they advance, any knockout games will also be played in the United States, given the structure of the bracket.
Iranian players pose for a photo before a friendly football match between Iran and Costa Rica in Antalya, southern Turkey, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Riza Ozel)
This is why the Iranian Football Federation has officially requested changes. Federation president Mehdi Tegui confirmed discussions with FIFA include potentially moving the games to Mexico if safety cannot be ensured.
Request to move matches and FIFA’s response
Mexico offered to host Iran’s games, but the request resulted in no change. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed FIFA’s rejection of the proposal at a press conference in Mexico City. “FIFA ultimately decided that the match could not move away from its original venue,” she said. “That would make the logistics too complex and that decision was taken by FIFA.” This decision effectively locks Iran’s games in the United States, according to the current schedule.
US President’s remarks and Infantino’s stance
US President Donald Trump’s comments also affected the situation. On March 11, 2026, he posted on Truth Social in response to reports that Iran might miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, saying that Iran was “welcome” to participate, but also suggested that they should stay away from the World Cup “for their own lives and safety.”Meanwhile, Gianni Infantino stood his ground. After meeting with Iranian players, coaches and officials in Türkiye on March 31, he reiterated that the game would go ahead as planned.
The Iranian government’s position
Inside Iran, the approach has shifted from caution to greater preparedness. Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali previously told reporters on Tuesday, April 21, that discussions were taking place through the committee process.“We had discussions about the national team itself, the conditions of the national team and we set up a committee,” he said. “We are also meeting today within the framework of this discussion and we are fulfilling our legal obligations.”He added that attending or not attending is still a question: “We have to be prepared. In any case, it may be decided not to go. If it is decided to go, we should be prepared in any case so that our presence, if it is, is a strong presence.” He also noted that the final decision would depend on “the conditions that currently exist, including the government and possibly the National Security Council.”However, the latest update points to a more certain direction. Government Spokesperson Fatem Mohajerani said on wednesday In a statement to state broadcaster IRIB, Iranian institutions are now fully prepared for the national team to participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.She added that the Ministry of Youth and Sports had ensured that all necessary arrangements were made for the team’s participation, saying preparations were under the guidance of the Sports Minister and focused on providing the facilities required for a successful performance.
Qualification records and current status
The Iranian team qualified for the competition in March 2025 by finishing first in the Asian qualifying group, becoming one of the earlier teams to qualify. They have participated in six World Cups, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.At present, Iran’s qualifications remain official, the schedule has been arranged, and FIFA has confirmed its qualifications. While earlier statements suggested the final decision was subject to changing conditions and higher-level approval, recent government updates indicating that Iranian institutions are now fully prepared for the national team to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup suggest Iran is moving toward a state of readiness rather than uncertainty.
