The participation of Iran in the 2026 World Cup is guaranteed, asserts FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a striking statement that comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension in the Middle East. Despite the uncertainties caused by the conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel, which has jeopardized the Iranian national team’s presence on the biggest stage of world football, Infantino was emphatic: “Iran will be there, without a doubt.”
The 2026 World Cup, which will take place from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will be the first with 48 teams. The Iranian team is placed in Group G, where it will face New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt, with matches scheduled for Los Angeles and Seattle. However, the proximity of the conflict in the Middle East and the instability in the region raise concerns about the safety and logistics of the Iranian national team’s participation.
During an event in Washington organized by CNBC, Infantino did not hesitate to state that FIFA hopes that by the start of the tournament, “the situation will be peaceful, which would help immensely.” But for the leader of world football, “Iran has to come, it represents its people, it qualified, and the players want to play.”
The controversy is not new. With the conflict escalating since February 28, Iran has even spoken of a boycott and requested FIFA to move its matches from the United States to Mexico, a request that was denied. Tension increased with Iran’s closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and Washington’s imposition of a blockade on ships linked to Iranian ports. Despite a fragile truce lasting two weeks starting from April 8, the situation remains volatile.
Infantino, known for having a close relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump — who suggested that Iranian players might not be “safe” in the United States — stands firm in advocating for the separation of sport and politics. “Sport must be kept out of politics,” he emphasized. “Of course, we do not live on the Moon. We live on Earth. But if there is no one else who believes in building bridges and keeping them intact and united, then we will do that work.”
This statement comes as a call for football to serve as a platform for unity rather than division in a world marked by conflict. FIFA, through Infantino, reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that the 2026 World Cup will be an inclusive event, where politics will not determine who plays or not.
The path of Iran to the World Cup has been marked by challenges, but its presence in the tournament seems, for now, assured. It remains to be seen whether, by June, the situation in the Middle East will allow the Iranian team to take the field without political tensions overshadowing the sporting spectacle that millions are eagerly awaiting.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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