Iran to play 2026 World Cup games in United States: FIFA president

VANCOUVER – FIFA president Gianni Infantino says Iran will play World Cup games in the United States this summer, despite an ongoing war between the two nations.

Infantino made the remarks at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver on Thursday, saying the reason Iran will participate is because soccer must unite people. 

“We have to bring people together,” he said. “It is my responsibility, it is our responsibility. Football unites the world, FIFA unites the world, you unite the world, we unite the world. 

“And we have to remember, always, that we have to be positive. We have to be smiling, we have to be happy. There are enough problems around the world; there are enough people who try to divide all over the world. If nobody tries to unite, what will happen to our world? We have to do it.”

Iran is the only nation among FIFA’s 211 members not at the meeting of global soccer officials. 

The head of the nation’s soccer body, Mehdi Taj, reportedly arrived in Toronto en route to the event before having his temporary resident visa revoked for his ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is a listed terrorist entity in Canada.

Iran, currently No. 21 in FIFA’s rankings, is in Group G at this summer’s World Cup alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. 

All three of the country’s games are scheduled to be played in the U.S., starting with matches in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 and ending group play against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. 

Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are co-hosting the expanded 48-team World Cup, which runs from June 11 through July 19. 

The tournament will include 104 games across 16 host cities, including Vancouver and Toronto. 

Iran’s status at the World Cup, which starts in June, has been a source of debate and concern since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on the country in February.

U.S. President Donald Trump in March discouraged Iran from participating in the tournament, citing safety concerns.

Earlier this month, a Trump administration official suggested Iran be replaced by four-time champion Italy, an idea rejected by Italian sports officials.

FIFA has consistently said Iran would play in the U.S. as scheduled and was not interested in moving its games to co-host Mexico.

The congress briefly turned tense during an onstage appearance involving Palestinian and Israeli soccer officials.

Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub declined to stand alongside Israel Football Association vice-president Basim Sheikh Suliman despite an attempt by Infantino to bring them together.

Rajoub refused a handshake, saying Palestinians are suffering.

The exchange comes weeks after FIFA fined the Israel Football Association 150,000 Swiss francs ($225,000) for breaches of anti-discrimination rules, including tolerance of racist behaviour by fans and the exclusion of Palestinians from football infrastructure in settlements. 

The governing body declined, however, to act on a Palestinian request to suspend Israel from international soccer, citing the unresolved legal status of the West Bank.

— With files from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2026.