Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Infantino emphasized that Iran is not eliminated from the tournament and the matches of the West Asian team will still take place on US territory. "We must unite and connect everyone. That is the responsibility of FIFA," the head of the world football organization affirmed.
Previously, a plan appeared for Iran to play the entire group stage in Mexico to avoid obstacles related to entry issues. However, FIFA rejected this proposal and maintained the plan to play in the US, the co-host of the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
FIFA's decision was made in the context of Iran being the focus of debate due to political tensions in the Middle East region. However, FIFA leaders believe that the core goal of the World Cup is to promote cohesion between countries through football.
A noteworthy detail is that the Iranian delegation did not attend this FIFA Congress. According to international media, the reason stemmed from a member of the delegation being refused entry into Canada, leading to the entire delegation deciding not to attend.
On the host side, US President Donald Trump said he did not object to Iran playing in the US during the 2026 World Cup.
According to the plan, Iran is in Group G with rivals Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt. The team will play against New Zealand on June 15 at SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles).
FIFA's maintenance of its position with Iran is seen as a move to affirm the neutrality of international football, while ensuring the integrity of the biggest tournament on the planet.
