The Iranian men’s national soccer team was one of the first teams to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, an event shaping up to be FIFA’s largest yet, not only in terms of footprint and participating teams but also commercially, projected to generate upwards of $11 billion in revenue.
But amid the U.S.-Iran war, Iran’s participation in the tournament has remained a question mark.
Last month, Iran’s sports minister made his position clear: “Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” he stated.
In a post on Truth Social in March, U.S. President Donald Trump said that while Iran’s team would be “welcome” at the World Cup, “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
But FIFA President Gianni Infantino says Iran will be “coming for sure.”
