Iran to play in the 2026 Soccer World Cup in the US: FIFA

The New York/New Jersey’s FIFA World Cup 2026 logo

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has insisted that Iran would play in the FIFA World Cup 2026, and they will play their matches in the United States.

The football governing body’s Congress opened in Vancouver, Canada, on Thursday without the Iranian delegation, highlighting tensions and challenges surrounding the tournament.

Two members of the delegation could have attended the congress, but chose not to after one of their delegation, a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard, was denied entry into Canada.

Infantino said FIFA had a responsibility and opportunity to unite a divided world during this year’s tournament in the Americas in June and July.

He says, “We have to bring people together. It is my responsibility, it is our responsibility. Football unites the world, FIFA unites the world, you unite the world, we unite the world. And we always have to remember to be positive. We have to be smiling, we have to be happy. There are enough problems around the world; there are enough people who try to divide the world. If nobody tries to unite, what will happen to our world?”