FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed optimism regarding Iran's participation in the upcoming World Cup, despite ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Infantino stated that he received assurances from U.S. President Donald Trump that the Iranian national team will be allowed to travel to the United States for the tournament, which is set to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

World Cup Schedule for Iran

The Iranian team is scheduled to compete in three group stage matches: against New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, California, followed by a match against Belgium on June 21, and concluding group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Despite concerns raised by Iranian officials regarding the country's participation due to the ongoing conflict, Infantino remains confident in their ability to compete.

Infantino's Meeting with Trump

In a recent meeting with Trump, Infantino discussed the tournament's preparations and the situation in Iran. Infantino noted on Instagram that Trump reaffirmed the Iranian team's welcome to participate in the World Cup. He emphasized the importance of the event in fostering unity, stating, “We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever.”

FIFA's World Cup chief operating officer, Heimo Schirgi, also weighed in, asserting that the tournament is “too big” to be postponed due to global conflicts. Schirgi mentioned that FIFA is monitoring the situation closely and is prepared to adapt as necessary. As the tournament approaches, the focus remains on ensuring that all qualified teams, including Iran, can participate.