Gianni Infantino confirms Iran's 2026 World Cup fate despite Trump warnings

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Martin Macdonald | Author

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will indeed participate in the 2026 World Cup despite the ongoing conflict with one of the host nations, the United States.

The USA will host the tournament alongside Mexico and Canada.

The 48 teams were finally confirmed last month when all the World Cup playoffs concluded, but there was speculation that Iran would pull out of the competition due to the war.

For almost two months, the USA, in partnership with Israel, have been at war with Iran and it all started with bombing campaigns on the capital of Tehran, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader.

Iran retaliated and started bombing Israel as well as US army bases at locations around the Middle East. There is currently a ceasefire, but that is set to expire next week.

USA president Donald Trump previously said on Truth Social that Iran were welcome at the World Cup but the squad should probably stay away for safety purposes.

"The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP," his post said.

Iran, meanwhile, have previously suggested that they will not go to the tournament if the war continues.

"Considering that ‌this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances ⁠can we ​participate in ​the World ​Cup," sports minister Ahmad Donyamali told Iran's state television in March.

"Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist. Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence."

Iran are scheduled to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle. There were suggestions that they could campaign to have those matches moved to Mexico, but FIFA apparently did not give permission for the location to be changed.

Despite all of the above, Infantino insists Iran will be at the tournament.

“Iranian team is coming, for sure,” he said at CNBC’s Invest in America Forum in Washington.

"We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation. As I said, that would definitely help. But Iran has to come.”

Should Iran not participate, they will likely be replaced by another country from that region.

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