FIFA President Gianni Infantino has delivered a firm assurance that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup, even as Iranian officials were notably absent from the world football governing body's annual congress in Canada. The tournament, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer, had faced uncertainty over Iran's involvement amid ongoing tensions with the US and Israel.

"Of course, Iran will play in the United States of America," Infantino stated during the congress in Vancouver. "The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together." His comments came as Iran stood out as the only nation among FIFA's 211 member associations not represented at the event.

The Iranian delegation, including football federation president Mehdi Taj, had been scheduled to attend but failed to arrive. According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, the group was turned back at border control due to their treatment by Canadian immigration authorities. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed a "revocation" of entry permission, though she described it as unintentional.

The situation is further complicated by Taj's reported connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Canada has designated as a terrorist organization. Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that IRGC members are "prohibited from coming" to Canada, though he declined to comment on specific cases due to privacy laws. "There are multiple hurdles in order to get into the country, and I think the important thing is that those hurdles are effective," Carney added.

The Iranian football federation has yet to issue a statement regarding the absence. For now, the focus remains on the pitch, where Iran is expected to take their place on football's biggest stage—a powerful reminder of sport's potential to bridge divides, even in the face of geopolitical challenges.