Iran participating in World Cup, FIFA president confirms
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that Iran will "for sure" participate in the 2026 World Cup despite the Middle East war.
english.ahram.org.egHere’s a concise update on Iran at the FIFA World Cup, based on the latest publicly reported developments.
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Iran’s participation has been a continuing subject of negotiation and diplomacy as the tournament approaches, with officials stating conditions and guarantees they seek from FIFA and the hosts. This has included visa assurances for players and staff, as well as considerations tied to safety and political concerns. [Source coverage from multiple outlets notes Iran aiming to participate but seeking guarantees; latest mentions around May 2026 indicate ongoing discussions rather than a final decision.][5][6]
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FIFA’s leadership has repeatedly affirmed that Iran is welcome to compete in the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, even amid regional tensions, though host country arrangements and security considerations have been part of the broader conversation. This is reflected in statements from FIFA’s leadership and related coverage.[2][3][4]
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Iran’s scheduled Group G matches are typically reported as involving Belgium, New Zealand, and a third opponent (often Egypt) in the group stage, with some venues proposed in the United States and other host locations depending on final scheduling decisions. The exact match locations and dates can shift based on security and diplomatic developments.[1][7]
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As of late May 2026, there were ongoing reports about: Iran presenting a list of 10 conditions to FIFA regarding visa access and participation, and FIFA reiterating commitments to allowing Iran to compete; and separate coverage noting that discussions have continued but final confirmation depended on resolving visa and security guarantees.[5]
If you’d like, I can pull the most up-to-date official statements and compile a bullet-point timeline with dates, or provide a quick table of Iran’s group-stage opponents, proposed locations, and the latest guarantees Iran is seeking. I can also summarize how the situation has evolved across major outlets (BBC, Sky, AFP, etc.) with direct citations.