FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, stressing that football must remain separate from politics. Speaking at an economic conference hosted by CNBC on Wednesday, Infantino said, “Iran is definitely coming. We hope the situation will be peaceful by then, that will definitely help”. “But Iran has to come, they represent their people, they have qualified, the players want to play,” he added, referring to the team’s upcoming matches in the US in June. Iran’s participation was thrown into uncertainty after the conflict between the US and Israel earlier this year. The team even considered a boycott and requested that their matches be moved out of the United States, which FIFA ultimately rejected. The Asian team will play its Group G matches in the US, two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle, while staying in Tucson, Arizona during the tournament.Tensions rose after the February 28 conflict, which was followed by weeks of airstrikes and reprisals. Although a fragile cease-fire took effect on April 8, geopolitical tensions remain, including sanctions in the Strait of Hormuz and US-imposed maritime measures at Iranian ports.Infantino made similar comments in March, when he attended an Iran-Costa Rica friendly in Antalya, Turkey, even though US President Donald Trump had previously said Iranian players could not be “safe” in the US.Despite the background, Infantino reiterated FIFA’s stance on keeping sport above political controversy. He said that sports should be out of politics. “If there’s no one else who believes in building bridges and maintaining them and keeping them together, we’re doing it,” he said. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first edition to feature 48 teams and is scheduled to begin on June 11.
