FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will participate in the upcoming World Cup, with their matches scheduled to take place in the United States as planned. This announcement comes amid ongoing concerns regarding Iran's involvement in the tournament due to the US-Israel conflict.

Assurances from FIFA President

Infantino expressed his satisfaction with Iran's participation, stating, "Iran will be at the World Cup. We're delighted because they're a very, very strong team, I'm very happy." He emphasized that the matches will occur as outlined in the tournament draw, despite earlier discussions from the Iranian football federation about potentially relocating their games to Mexico.

Iran is set to compete against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, respectively, and will face Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The World Cup is scheduled to commence on June 11, hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Support from the Iranian Football Federation

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, vice president of the Iranian Football Federation, stated that their primary concern is adhering to FIFA's regulations. He remarked, "For us, what matters most are FIFA's rules and regulations. We will comply with whatever FIFA decides." Nabi also noted Infantino's visit to Iran's recent friendly match against Costa Rica in Turkey, highlighting the productive discussions that took place during his visit.

Infantino's support for the Iranian team has been welcomed, with Nabi mentioning that it provides a significant boost to the players. The situation has been further complicated by statements from US President Donald Trump, who indicated that while Iran would be "welcome to the World Cup," he questioned their involvement for safety reasons. In response, Iranian officials suggested that it was the US that should reconsider its participation in the tournament.

As the tournament approaches, the focus remains on ensuring that all teams, including Iran, can compete as scheduled, reinforcing the spirit of international football.