By our reporter 31.3.2026
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he expects Iran to participate in the 2026 World Cup, despite the on-going war between the Middle East country and the United States co-hosts of the global football fiesta starting in June.
Though Iranian government and football officials have expressed doubt if their team will be at the World Cup due to safety concerns, Infantino who was speaking in an interview with N+, said the world football body has no plan to replace Iran.
Infantino hinted that he was in talks with US officials to ensure that Iranian players and officials are safe while in the USA.
“Iran represents its people, those who live in Iran and those who live abroad,” Infantino said.
“They qualified for this World Cup on the field; they were a team that qualified very early. It’s a football-mad country. We want them to play; they will play in the World Cup, and there are no plans B, C, or D; it’s plan A.
” We live in the real world, and we know what the situation is, which is very complicated, but we are working and we are going to make sure that Iran plays this World Cup in the best conditions.”
However Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj does not share in the optimism of Infantino. He said: “What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.”
