Despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Iran is set to play in the World Cup, with all three group stage matches to be played in the United States, following President Donald Trump’s blessing.
Donald Trump is happy to host Iran at the World Cup (Image: Jia Haocheng/Getty Images)
Iran is scheduled to send a delegation to FIFA headquarters this month to discuss how to qualify for the World Cup. Iran plans to play all three of its group stage matches in the United States in June, despite challenges caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
With 46 days left until Iran’s first Group G match against New Zealand in Los Angeles, “there are many issues to discuss”, as Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj said on Friday. Taj was unable to attend the FIFA General Assembly in Canada on Thursday because he is a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran was the only country not represented at the meeting in Vancouver after Mr. Taj was turned away at the border. FIFA has therefore contacted the country’s football federation to schedule important talks in Switzerland.
According to the Associated Press, FIFA Secretary General Matthias Grafström has set a May 20 deadline for the Iranian delegation to come to Switzerland for talks. “Our position is that we will meet with FIFA soon,” Taj told Iranian media on Friday.
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Iran is based in Tucson, Arizona, and has two games in the United States in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Their attendance at the tournament has now been welcomed by US President Donald Trump.
Trump had previously said it was “not appropriate” for Iranians to compete “for their own lives and safety,” but he changed his tune on Thursday.
“Whatever, let them play,” he said after being informed that FIFA president Gianni Infantino had reiterated his support for Iran’s participation in the 48-team World Cup.
Iran qualifies for the World Cup (Image: Adem ALTAN / AFP via Getty Images)
“Gianni is great. He’s a friend of mine. He talked about it and I said, ‘Do whatever you want.’ You can have them, you don’t have to have them. They probably have a good team. Do they have a good team, any ideas?”
Speaking at the FIFA General Assembly, Infantino said: “Of course Iran will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and of course they will also play in the United States. The reason is very simple, dear friends, we have to unite. We have to unite our people. That is my responsibility.”
Despite a ceasefire in place since early April, tensions between the US and Iran remain high as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. “I just talked to Iran. We’ll see what happens. But I can tell you I’m not satisfied,” Trump said in a speech Friday.
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