FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran national football team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup as planned and their matches will be played in the United States. This comes after weeks of uncertainty due to the ongoing tensions involving Iran, the US, and Israel.
Despite earlier talks about possibly moving their games, FIFA has now made it clear: no changes to the schedule.
🌍 What FIFA Said About Iran’s Participation
Speaking to AFP, Infantino didn’t mince words:
- “Iran will be at the World Cup”
- “The matches will be played where they are supposed to be”
That means:
- No relocation to Mexico
- No boycott
- No last-minute changes
👉 This puts to rest speculation that politics or security concerns could disrupt Iran’s World Cup plans.
⚽ Iran’s World Cup Fixtures (Confirmed)
Iran is set to play all group matches in the United States:
- 🇮🇷 vs 🇳🇿 New Zealand – 15 June (Los Angeles)
- 🇮🇷 vs 🇧🇪 Belgium – 21 June (Los Angeles)
- 🇮🇷 vs 🇪🇬 Egypt – 26 June (Seattle)
The tournament itself kicks off on 11 June 2026 and will be hosted across:
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
🤝 Behind-the-Scenes Talks & Tensions
Earlier in the month:
- Iran’s football authorities were in talks with FIFA to move matches to Mexico
- Claudia Sheinbaum even said Mexico was ready to host them if needed
Meanwhile:
- Donald Trump said Iran would be “welcome” but also hinted at safety concerns
- Iran responded by suggesting the US should forfeit its place instead
👉 Clearly, politics tried to enter football — but FIFA has chosen to keep things strictly sporting.
🗣️ Iran FA Reacts to FIFA Decision
Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, vice president of Iran’s football federation, made it clear:
- Iran will respect FIFA’s rules
- The focus is on playing football, not politics
He also confirmed that Infantino:
- Visited the team in Turkey
- Attended their 5-0 friendly win over Costa Rica
- Spoke directly with players and coaching staff
📸 Emotional Moment Before Friendly Match
Before their game against Costa Rica:
- Iranian players held up photos showing:
- Children affected by war
- Damaged hospitals
- Destroyed historical sites
👉 A powerful reminder that while football continues, real-life issues still hit hard back home.
🔍 What This Means Going Forward
This decision sends a strong message:
- No Boycott Incoming – Iran is fully committed
- FIFA Standing Firm – No schedule changes
- Confidence in Stability – Hopes the conflict will ease before June
- Football First – Politics won’t disrupt the tournament (for now)
🧠 Quick Takeaways
- Iran will play in the US, no relocation
- FIFA has rejected schedule changes
- Political tensions caused uncertainty, but football stays on track
- All eyes now shift to June 15 (Iran vs New Zealand)
📝 Final Thoughts
This whole situation shows how global football and politics sometimes collide — but FIFA is clearly trying to keep the game on the pitch. For fans, the focus now returns to the football itself and how far Iran can go in the tournament.
💬 What Do You Think?
Do you think Iran playing in the US is the right decision, or should FIFA have moved their matches?
Drop your opinion in the comments, share this post, and join the conversation 👇
