TEHRAN : Iran has officially confirmed its national football team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, putting an end to weeks of uncertainty fueled by a devastating war with the United States and Israel.
The Iranian Ministry of Sports announced that all necessary preparations for the team’s journey to the United States have been finalized. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajrani stated that the necessary steps have been taken for the team’s effective participation, following the directive of the sports ministry and with the backing of FIFA.
“The country’s institutions are fully prepared for the national football team’s participation,” Mohajrani said. This confirmation follows FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s insistence that Iran “has to come” to the tournament, stating, “Sports should be outside of politics”.
Iran had qualified for the 48-team tournament and is placed in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt. All of Iran’s group stage matches are scheduled on the U.S. West Coast, with the team set to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 27.
The team’s participation had been in grave doubt following the outbreak of war on February 28, which included the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the war’s aftermath, Iran’s Sports Minister banned athletes from traveling to countries with opposing views, and the Iranian Football Federation even requested FIFA to move its matches from the United States to Mexico, a request that FIFA ultimately rejected due to logistical concerns.
The situation was further complicated by U.S. President Donald Trump, who earlier stated that while the Iranian team would be “welcome” in the United States, their presence would not be “appropriate” due to safety concerns. Iran defiantly responded at the time, asserting that “no one can exclude the Iranian national team from the World Cup”.
In a reversal, President Trump later declared that the Iranian team would be welcomed for the tournament, a sentiment echoed by FIFA officials. The fragile ceasefire currently in place, brokered in early April, has allowed diplomatic efforts to continue.
With the confirmation, Iran is now set to compete in its fourth consecutive World Cup.
