FIFA President Gianni Infantino put an end to weeks of speculation on Thursday, confirming that Iran will indeed play their scheduled World Cup matches in the United States as planned. The announcement came during his opening address at FIFA's summit in Vancouver, where he directly addressed the swirling uncertainty surrounding Iran's participation in the tournament.
"Let me start by confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026," Infantino stated firmly. "And of course, Iran will play in the United States of America."
The clarity from FIFA's chief arrives amid a backdrop of geopolitical tension that has cast a shadow over the tournament. Iran's involvement in the 2026 World Cup—co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States—has been a hot topic since the escalation of conflict in the Middle East in February, following strikes by the US and Israel. While Iranian officials had previously floated the idea of relocating their group stage matches to Mexico, Infantino had already dismissed that proposal.
The drama took another turn last week when Italy-born US special envoy Paolo Zampolli reportedly suggested that Italy could replace Iran in the tournament. However, the US government quickly distanced itself from that notion, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirming that Iran's footballers would be welcome to compete on American soil.
Despite Infantino's reassurances, tensions continued to simmer into the FIFA Congress. Notably, Iran was the only absent member among the 211 nations attending the Thursday meeting, following a diplomatic clash with Canadian border officials earlier in the week. The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) delegation, led by president Mehdi Taj—a former member of Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—abruptly left Canada after landing in Toronto, abandoning their travel to Vancouver. Iranian media reported that the group flew home after being "insulted" by Canadian immigration officers.
Canada, which designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization in 2024, confirmed Wednesday that individuals linked to the force are "inadmissible" to the country. While the government declined to comment on the specifics of the case due to privacy laws, the incident underscores the complex intersection of sports and geopolitics ahead of what promises to be a historic World Cup. For now, fans can rest assured that Iran's team will take the field in the US, ready to compete on the world's biggest stage.