FIFA chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi said the World Cup is “too big” and that the 2026 tournament will go ahead as planned despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
In statements made at the International Broadcasting Center in Dallas on Monday, Schirgi was asked specifically about Iran, whose participation in the World Cup is uncertain due to the war waged against the country by Israel and the United States.
“At some point, we will come to a resolution and the World Cup will happen, obviously,” Schirgi said, according to “NBC 5” in Dallas. “The World Cup is very big and we hope that everyone who qualifies can participate.”
Schirgi said FIFA is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, while working with federal and international partners to assess daily developments.
FIFA said last week that it is closely monitoring the , just months before the start of the World Cup in June. Iran qualified for the tournament through its participation in the Asian Football Conference.
Iran will face Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt in the . Two of those games will be played in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Schirgi said FIFA is in contact with the Iranian football federation but declined to provide details of those conversations.
The tournament will be the biggest in history, with 48 teams competing in three countries. The United States will host games in 11 cities, Mexico in three and Canada in two.
FIFA officials were in Dallas to announce plans for the city’s fan festival, with the International Broadcast Center (IBC) inside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center still under construction. Schirgi said the IBC will be open 24 hours a day during the World Cup and is expected to attract between 3,000 and 3,500 journalists to Dallas.
