FIFA President Gianni Infantino says Iran will 'for sure' play in World Cup despite conflict involving US

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that Iran "for sure" volition play successful the World Cup this summertime contempt the ongoing warfare involving the United States.

The struggle successful the Middle East begged the question whether Iran, which qualified for the World Cup that begins successful June successful the U.S., Mexico and Canada, would inactive enactment fixed the circumstances.

All 3 of Iran’s radical signifier games are scheduled to beryllium played successful the U.S. That remains the lawsuit aft Iranian authorities officials suggested to FIFA that their games beryllium moved to Mexico due to the fact that they could not question to the U.S.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 Semafor World Economy league successful Washington, D.C., April 15, 2026. (Kent Nishimura/AFP)

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed FIFA’s rejection of Iran’s request, and it is insisting Iran play wherever its scheduled — SoFi Stadium successful Inglewood, California, and Lumen Field successful Seattle.

According to Infantino, Iran is going on with the archetypal schedule.

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"The Iranian squad is coming, for sure," Infantino said during the CNBC Invest successful America Forum Tuesday successful Washington, D.C.

"We anticipation that, by then, of course, the concern volition beryllium a peaceful situation. That would decidedly help. But Iran has to come, of course. They correspond their people. They person qualified. The players privation to play."

Infantino visited the Iranian nationalist squad successful Turkey, which is wherever it has its grooming camp.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends an planetary affable betwixt Mexico and Portugal astatine Banorte Stadium successful Mexico City connected March 28, 2026. (Antonio Torres/FIFA/Getty Images)

"They were having a grooming campy successful Antalya," Infantino added astir his travel past period to sojourn the team. "And they truly privation to play. And they should play. Sports should beryllium extracurricular of politics.

Iran is scheduled to play astatine SoFi Stadium against New Zealand connected June 16 to statesman its tournament. It volition besides play Belgium astatine the stadium earlier finishing radical play against Mo Salah and Egypt successful Seattle June 26.

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President Donald Trump wrote successful a Truth Social station past period that Iran would beryllium invited to vie successful the World Cup arsenic scheduled, though it mightiness not beryllium "appropriate" considering the conflict.

"The Iran National Soccer Team is invited to The World Cup, but I truly don’t judge it is due that they beryllium there, for their ain beingness and safety," helium wrote.

Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates aft scoring a extremity during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A crippled against Uzbekistan astatine Azadi Stadium March 25, 2025 successful Tehran, Iran. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)

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Trump besides told Politico, "I truly don’t care," erstwhile asked astir Iran’s information successful the tournament. Infantino, who holds a beardown narration with Trump, said Trump has "reiterated" to him that the U.S. welcomes Iran’s squad to compete.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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