Trump and Infantino confirm Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup despite tensions

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the Iran national football team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following a meeting he held with US President Donald Trump to discuss preparations for the upcoming tournament.
These statements came amid growing concerns within sports circles about the impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East on the tournament, which will start in about three months and will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Infantino explained that the meeting with Trump addressed the ongoing preparations for the World Cup, in addition to discussing the political situation related to Iran, noting that the US President confirmed during the meeting that the Iranian team is welcome to participate in the World Cup despite the current international tensions.
These confirmations come after increasing doubts about Iran's possible participation in the tournament, following airstrikes targeting its territory in late February and the expansion of the conflict in the Middle East to include several countries in the region.
Trump had previously stated that he does not place much importance on Iran's participation in the tournament, but Infantino's recent statements reflect an American position supporting the continued participation of the Iranian team in the global sporting event.
The FIFA President pointed out that the World Cup represents an opportunity to unite peoples in times of crisis, emphasizing that sports can play a role in bringing countries closer even amid political tensions.
The Iranian team is scheduled to play its group stage matches in the United States, where the draw placed them in Group G alongside the Belgium national football team, Egypt national football team, and New Zealand national football team.
The Iranian team may also face the US team in the knockout stages if the two teams have equal results in the group stage and qualify for the next round, which could give the tournament an additional political dimension amid the ongoing tensions.