Infantino Says Iran 'Coming for Sure' to World Cup in the U.S. as FIFA Rejects Venue Change
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed Iran will play its three group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle as scheduled, rejecting Iran's request to relocate games to Mexico. Iran's Sports Ministry had banned national teams from traveling to 'hostile countries.'
FIFA President Gianni Infantino told a forum in Washington on Tuesday that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States despite the recent war between the two countries.
"The Iranian team is coming, for sure."
Infantino said he visited the Iranian team at their training camp in Antalya, Turkey, where they told him they want to play. "Sports should be outside of politics," he said. "We don't live on the moon, we live on planet Earth, but if there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them intact and together, well we are doing that."
Iran's Football Federation had formally asked FIFA to relocate its three group-stage matches from U.S. venues to Mexico. FIFA refused.
The schedule
Iran is in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. All three of its matches are on the U.S. West Coast:
| Date | Opponent | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 15 | New Zealand | SoFi Stadium | Los Angeles |
| June 21 | Belgium | SoFi Stadium | Los Angeles |
| June 26 | Egypt | Lumen Field | Seattle |
The 48-team tournament is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with the U.S. hosting 78 of the 104 total matches. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The standoff
On March 27 -- four weeks into Operation Epic Fury -- Iran's Sports Ministry issued a directive banning all national and club sports teams from traveling to "hostile countries" until further notice. The order did not name the World Cup explicitly but effectively made U.S. travel illegal under Iranian law.
Iran's Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said participation depended on relocation. Without security guarantees, attendance was "very low." Trump publicly stated he could not ensure the safety of the Iranian team.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on April 13 that FIFA told Mexico the matches could not be moved, citing logistical constraints.
What happens next
The ceasefire between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, took effect on April 8. It expires April 22 -- six days from now. Iran has not formally withdrawn from the tournament. The team's delegation would need to arrive at its planned training camp in Tucson, Arizona, by approximately June 10.
If Iran does not participate, FIFA would need to determine whether to replace them or award walkovers to their Group G opponents. The tournament's opening match is June 11.
Infantino framed the stakes in economic terms as well: the World Cup is expected to generate $11 billion in FIFA revenue, draw seven million stadium attendees, and create approximately 200,000 permanent U.S. jobs.