FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States as scheduled.
Infantino addressed the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on Thursday, April 30 amid continuing questions over Iran, which has been engaged in an armed conflict with the U.S. and Israel since late February.
But at the start of his speech at FIFA's annual meeting, Infantino said that Iran would be present among the 48 teams at the World Cup in North America.
“Let me start at the outset confirming, straight away, for those who want to say something else or write something else, that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026. And of course Iran will play in the United States of America,” Infantino said.
The second part of Infantino's proclamation was meaningful, following Iran's request to move its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico.
