FIFA confirms Iran's 2026 World Cup participation

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reaffirmed that Iran will "for sure" compete in the 2026 World Cup, despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia and political friction with the United States. Speaking at a CNBC economic conference in Washington, Infantino emphasized that sports should remain separate from politics, stating the Iranian team earned its place on the pitch and represents its people. Iran, which dominated Asian qualifiers last year to secure its seventh World Cup appearance, is slated to play its Group G matches against Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand on U.S. soil. Despite safety concerns previously raised by U.S. President Donald Trump, Infantino insisted the tournament will move forward as planned, highlighting the power of football to "build bridges" even during times of international crisis.