The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, said that Donald Trump confirmed that Iran’s national football team will be allowed to compete in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Infantino shared the update after meeting Trump to discuss preparations for the tournament.
World Cup Hosted by Three Countries
The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The tournament begins on 11 June and will include matches across several cities.
Iran’s Participation in Question
Iran’s place in the competition recently faced uncertainty. The situation became tense after military strikes by the US and Israel targeted sites in Iran earlier this month.
The attacks reportedly killed Ali Khamenei, escalating regional tensions.
Iran later launched missiles and drones toward Israel and several Gulf states that host US military bases. These countries include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump’s Message on Football Unity
According to Infantino, Trump confirmed that Iran’s football team is welcome to compete in the United States.
Infantino thanked the US president for supporting the tournament and said global events like the World Cup can help unite people during difficult times.
Iran’s Scheduled Matches
Iran is expected to play three group matches in the United States.
The team will face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June.
They will then play Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.
Concerns from Iranian Officials
The conflict has affected how some Iranian officials view the tournament. Mehdi Taj said the recent attacks make it difficult to feel optimistic about the World Cup.
Iran Women’s Team Situation
Meanwhile, Australia granted humanitarian visas to several members of Iran’s women’s football team due to safety concerns.
Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that seven people received asylum. However, one player later decided to return to Iran.
