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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that Iran "for sure" will play successful nan World Cup this summertime contempt nan ongoing warfare involving nan United States.
The conflict successful nan Middle East begged nan mobility whether Iran, which qualified for nan World Cup that originates successful June successful nan U.S., Mexico and Canada, would still participate fixed nan circumstances.
All 3 of Iran’s group shape games are scheduled to beryllium played successful nan U.S. That remains nan lawsuit aft Iranian authorities officials suggested to FIFA that their games beryllium moved to Mexico because they could not recreation to nan U.S.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during nan 2026 Semafor World Economy convention 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 pinch nan original schedule.
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"The Iranian team is coming, for sure," Infantino said during nan CNBC Invest successful America Forum Tuesday successful Washington, D.C.
"We dream that, by then, of course, nan business will beryllium a serene situation. That would decidedly help. But Iran has to come, of course. They correspond their people. They person qualified. The players want to play."
Infantino visited nan Iranian nationalist squad successful Turkey, which is wherever it has its training camp.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends an world friends betwixt Mexico and Portugal astatine Banorte Stadium successful Mexico City connected March 28, 2026. (Antonio Torres/FIFA/Getty Images)
"They were having a training campy successful Antalya," Infantino added astir his travel past period to sojourn nan team. "And they really want 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 will besides play Belgium astatine nan stadium earlier finishing group play against Mo Salah and Egypt successful Seattle June 26.
FIFA PRESIDENT SAYS TRUMP REITERATED IRAN 'WELCOME TO COMPETE' AT WORLD CUP IN US AMID MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
President Donald Trump wrote successful a Truth Social station past period that Iran would beryllium invited to compete successful nan World Cup arsenic scheduled, though it mightiness not beryllium "appropriate" considering nan conflict.
"The Iran National Soccer Team is invited to The World Cup, but I really don’t judge it is due that they beryllium there, for their ain life and safety," he wrote.
Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates aft scoring a extremity during nan 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 really don’t care," erstwhile asked astir Iran’s information successful nan tournament. Infantino, who holds a beardown narration pinch Trump, said Trump has "reiterated" to him that nan U.S. welcomes Iran’s squad to compete.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Scott Thompson is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
