FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confidently stated that Iran will "for sure" participate in the upcoming World Cup, despite the ongoing conflict with the United States. This declaration comes as questions arose about Iran's ability to compete after the war began on February 28, which cast doubt on their World Cup entry secured in March 2025 as one of Asia's top teams.

World Cup Hosting and Iran's Participation

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Iran scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches in the U.S. In early March, Iranian officials expressed concerns about the team's participation, suggesting they might not be able to travel to the U.S. and even requesting that FIFA relocate Iran's games to Mexico. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed last week that FIFA had turned down that request, reaffirming that the tournament will proceed as planned.

Infantino's Assurance and the Team's Readiness

During a recent appearance at CNBC's Invest in America Forum in Washington, D.C., Infantino emphasized the importance of Iran's participation, stating, "The Iranian team is coming, for sure." He expressed hope that the situation would stabilize by the time of the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19. Infantino noted that he visited the Iranian team during a training camp in Antalya, Türkiye, where he observed their eagerness to compete, asserting that "sports should be outside of politics."

The Iranian delegation is expected to arrive at its training camp in Tucson, Arizona, by June 10, ahead of their first match against New Zealand on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Should Iran advance in the tournament, subsequent knockout games would likely take place in the U.S. Despite FIFA's optimism, U.S. President Donald Trump has made mixed statements regarding the Iranian team's participation, indicating that while he doesn't mind their presence, he has also raised concerns about the players' safety.