The president of FIFA (International Football Federation), Gianni Infantino, reiterated this Thursday (30) that Iran will participate in this year’s World Cup, during his speech at the Congress of the world’s highest football body, in Vancouver.
“To begin with, I would like to confirm that Iran will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” Infantino said as he began his speech to delegates. “And, of course, Iran will play in the United States.”
Leaders of the Iranian Football Federation canceled their participation in the FIFA Congress on Wednesday (29), citing an “insult” given by an immigration police officer at Toronto airport.
Doubts surrounding the Iranian team’s participation in the World Cup arose in the wake of attacks by the United States and Israel on the Middle Eastern country, which began at the end of February.
Iranian football officials said last month they had proposed moving their three World Cup group stage games from the United States to Mexico, a plan that was promptly rejected by the FIFA president.
Infantino had already declared weeks ago that Iran will play in the World Cup “wherever it is assigned, according to the draw.”
Iran has two Group G matches scheduled for Los Angeles, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21. He will then travel to Seattle to face Egypt on June 26.
The United States has said it does not intend to exclude Iranian players from the tournament, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
But he expressed reservations about individuals likely to accompany the team, “some of whom have links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
