FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will be allowed to participate in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup following discussions with United States President Donald Trump.
Infantino disclosed on Wednesday that he held talks with Trump regarding Iran’s involvement in the global football tournament, which is scheduled to kick off in June and will be jointly hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico.
In a post shared on Instagram, the FIFA chief said their conversation centered on preparations for the tournament and the excitement building ahead of the competition. According to him, Trump assured him that the Iranian national team would be welcomed to compete despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The issue of Iran’s participation had become a topic of debate following recent military confrontations in the Middle East involving the United States and Israel. The strikes reportedly led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and triggered retaliatory attacks across the region, raising concerns about how the conflict might affect international sporting events.
Despite the tense political climate, Iran has already secured qualification for the expanded tournament, which will feature 48 teams for the first time in World Cup history. The Iranian team is currently scheduled to play its group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Speculation about Iran’s possible exclusion intensified after representatives from the country failed to attend a World Cup planning meeting held in Atlanta last week that involved football federations from participating nations. The absence fueled uncertainty about whether diplomatic tensions might affect the team’s travel or eligibility.
Infantino, however, stated that his discussion with Trump helped clarify the situation.
According to the FIFA president, the American leader reaffirmed that Iran would not face restrictions in taking part in the competition.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino wrote.
He added that the World Cup has always served as a powerful platform to unite people from different cultures and backgrounds, especially during periods of global uncertainty.
“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever,” Infantino noted, thanking the U.S. president for his support and emphasizing FIFA’s slogan that “football unites the world.”
Interestingly, Trump had earlier appeared less enthusiastic about Iran’s participation. In comments to Politico last week, he downplayed the issue, saying he was largely indifferent to whether the country competed and describing Iran as a weakened nation.
Over the years, Infantino and Trump have developed a cordial relationship. The FIFA president attended Trump’s pre-inauguration rally and inauguration ceremony earlier this year and has also appeared at several events in Washington connected to preparations for the 2026 tournament.
During the World Cup draw held in Washington last December, Infantino even presented Trump with a newly created FIFA Peace Prize. The award was introduced to recognize individuals who have taken significant actions to promote peace and unity across the world.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Soccer Federation, JT Batson, has also voiced support for Iran’s inclusion in the tournament.
Batson told Sky News that FIFA’s leadership is committed to ensuring a secure and inclusive World Cup where all qualified teams are able to compete without political interference.
Despite the political tensions surrounding the issue, FIFA officials maintain that the tournament will proceed as scheduled.
FIFA Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi emphasized that postponing or restructuring the event would be extremely difficult given the scale of planning already involved.
Speaking at the International Broadcast Centre in Dallas, Schirgi said the organization remains confident that the situation will be resolved before the tournament begins.
“The World Cup is simply too large an event to delay,” he explained. “We expect that solutions will emerge and that every team that has earned qualification will be able to participate.”
As it stands, Iran is currently set to face Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt in the group stage of the 2026 tournament. With only a few months left before kickoff, FIFA officials continue to focus on final preparations for what is expected to be the biggest World Cup ever staged.
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