ZURICH
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will “of course” participate in the upcoming World Cup and play their scheduled matches in the United States. Despite rising political tensions between the two nations, Infantino stressed that his primary responsibility is to “bring people together” through the power of football.
The situation became complicated following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, which led to calls for Iran’s fixtures to be moved to Mexico or Canada. There was even speculation that Italy might replace them. However, during a meeting in Vancouver, Infantino dismissed these rumors. He made it clear that there are no grounds to expel Iran and that the tournament’s 48-team format remains unchanged.
The drama intensified when Iranian delegates were initially denied entry into Canada for a FIFA meeting. While Canada called the incident “unintentional,” the Iranian team skipped the event in protest. US President Donald Trump also weighed in, expressing safety concerns earlier in the week. However, after Infantino’s firm stance, Trump told reporters he is now “okay” with the team competing on American soil.
Iran is currently placed in Group G and is set to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. While Iran’s Sports Minister says a final decision depends on “security conditions,” FIFA has ruled out relocating any matches. As the June 11 kickoff approaches, the football world is watching closely to see if diplomacy can win out over political friction on the pitch.