Iran confirmed to play in the World Cup according to FIFA director Infantino | World Cup 2026 news

Iran’s place in the 2026 event hosted by the US has been in doubt since the US-Israel war over their country.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has insisted that Iran will play the World Cup in the United States, even if the governing body opened without the country’s representatives, his absence showing disagreement with the problems that have occurred in the tournament.

Iran’s absence prevented Thursday’s meeting of direct representation from a country whose presence at the 2026 World Cup is already generating discussion, and the issue is particularly complicated by cross-border competition.

The expanded 48-team World Cup, hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will require teams, officials and supporters to move frequently between regions, raising the prospect that visa restrictions or diplomatic disputes could disrupt preparations for other countries.

Iran took part in the tournament, but participation has been strained since the US-Israeli war broke out in the country, with Tehran requesting an alternate venue for the match on US soil.

FIFA has rejected the request, insisting that the system will stand. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that Washington has no objections to Iranian players taking part in the World Cup, but added that the players will not be allowed to bring people with ties to the IRGC.

“Let me start from the beginning. Yes, Iran will participate in the FIFA ⁠World Cup 2026. And of course Iran will play in the United States of America,” Infantino said at the conference.

“And the reason is simple: we have to unite. It is my responsibility, our responsibility.”

Officials of Iran’s soccer federation, including federal president Mehdi Taj, were due to attend the meeting but were turned back at Toronto airport after what Tehran described as “unacceptable behavior” by Canadian immigration officials, even though they traveled with valid visas.

A source familiar with the matter told Reuters news agency that two members of the delegation would have attended the FIFA meeting but chose not to attend after one of their delegates was denied entry to Canada.

Taj is a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Canadian officials say entry decisions were made on a case-by-case basis and people linked to the IRGC, which Ottawa calls a “terrorist organization”, are inadmissible.

“I can give the following confirmations and facts. One is that, as you know, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and all these members have been listed as a terrorist group for several years,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said.

“Members are not allowed to come. We have several checks, and we are taking action. And no members have entered the country. That has been done accordingly.”

Outside the conference venue, about 30 protesters wore Iranian flags and carried placards to express their desire to see regime change in Iran.

The protesters called their support for the Iranian opposition Reza Pahlavi. “The IRGC are terrorists,” they chanted. “It has nothing to do with criminals.” “Hey FIFA, oh FIFA, no problem with criminals.”