FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcement was made on May 1, 2026, amid concerns over potential travel restrictions for Iranian players and officials due to U.S. sanctions.
Infantino stated that he received assurances from President Trump that the necessary arrangements would be made to allow the Iranian national team to enter the United States for the tournament. The 2026 World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Iran qualified for the tournament by finishing second in Group A of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifying round. This will be Iran's seventh appearance at a FIFA World Cup, with their best performance being a group stage exit in 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
The confirmation resolves a period of uncertainty for the Iranian team, which had faced potential visa issues. FIFA had previously expressed confidence that all qualified teams would be able to participate, but the direct intervention of Infantino and Trump provided final clarity.
