Iran to play World Cup games in USA as planned – FIFA president Gianni Infantino
Iran’s participation has been the subject of uncertainty since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on the country on February 28.
news.stv.tvHere’s the latest on Iran and the FIFA World Cup, based on the most recent reporting I can access.
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Iran’s participation has been a live topic amid geopolitical tensions involving the US and allies. Several outlets have reported Iran seeking guarantees and visa assurances for players and officials as a condition of competing, with FIFA and the event hosts engaging on the matter. This context has driven headlines about whether Iran will take part in the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.[5]
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FIFA’s position has generally supported Iran’s participation, with FIFA officials indicating Iran would be welcome to compete, while negotiations over visas and security assurances continued to be part of the discussion.[2][6]
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In late April 2026, FIFA president Gianni Infantino publicly affirmed that Iran would participate in the World Cup, stating that Iran would compete “for sure” despite ongoing regional tensions and earlier callouts about possible boycott or relocation discussions. This statement was echoed by coverage from various outlets noting that Iran’s games were planned to be played in the U.S. and that the broader dispute had not scuttled their involvement.[3][6]
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The official stance from Iran’s side has emphasized that participation would occur under conditions that protect Iranian beliefs and ensure all participants—players, coaches, and officials—can obtain visas. Iran’s football federation outlined conditions addressing visas and host country assurances.[5]
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For schedule context, Iran is grouped with teams like Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt, with matches played in venues across the U.S. and potentially other host cities in North America. This grouping and venue arrangement have been part of ongoing reporting as the tournament approached.[7]
If you’d like, I can pull specific recent articles or provide a quick timeline of key milestones (e.g., Iran’s visa guarantees, host assurances, and any public comments from FIFA officials) with direct citations. Would you prefer a concise timeline or a brief FAQ-style summary?
Citations:
- Iran participation and visa assurances discussions:[5]
- FIFA official statements on Iran participation:[6][2]
- Infantino’s assurance of Iran’s participation:[3]
- Group/venue context and schedule mentions:[7]