FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Speaking at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on Thursday, Infantino emphasized that it is the governing body's responsibility to unite the world through football.
Iran's Participation Amid Ongoing Conflict
The Middle Eastern nation's involvement has been repeatedly questioned as the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran enters its third month. The White House even entered the debate when an envoy suggested that FIFA should replace Iran with Italy. However, Infantino dismissed such calls, stating, 'The reason for that is very simple, dear friends, is because we have to unite. 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.'
Iran's Schedule and Venues
Iran is set to open the tournament on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, where they are expected to face New Zealand in a Group G match. They will then play Belgium on June 21 at the same venue, followed by a match against Egypt on June 26 at Lumen Field in Seattle. Despite the schedule being set, the process has not been smooth for the Iranian team.
Border Issues and Political Reactions
Recently, Mehdi Taj, the head of Iran's soccer federation, and two other officials were turned away at the Canadian border due to alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), despite Taj reportedly having a temporary visa. The IRGC is listed as a terrorist entity by both the Canadian and U.S. governments. Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the issue, stating, 'The Iranian revolutionary guard, and all its members, has been listed as a terrorist organization for several years – their members are prohibited from coming. We have a series of screens that we take action on and no IRGC members have entered the country; action has been taken appropriately.'
U.S. Envoy's Proposal to Replace Iran
Iran's participation has been a hot topic since the war began, with officials requesting that their games be moved from the U.S. to Mexico. Paolo Zampolli, the U.S. special representative for global partnerships, even proposed swapping Iran for four-time champion Italy, which lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in World Cup qualifying. However, Italian sports minister Andrea Abodi reportedly said that 'qualification is done on the pitch' and replacing Iran would not be 'appropriate.'
Iran's participation was not discussed during the Asian soccer federation congress in Vancouver earlier this week, nor was there any mention of moving their games outside the U.S.
