FIFA President Gianni Infantino opened the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver with an unequivocal declaration: Iran will play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and they will do so on American soil — geopolitical tensions, diplomatic friction, and protests notwithstanding.
“Of course, Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026. And of course Iran will play in the United States of America,” Infantino told delegates at the Vancouver Convention Centre. “The reason for that is very simple, dear friends, is because we have to unite. We have to bring people together. It is my responsibility, our responsibility.”
The statement was notable not only for its content but its context. Iran was the only one of FIFA’s 211 member associations absent from the Congress — and the circumstances surrounding that absence have thrust football’s governing body into the middle of one of the most politically loaded situations in the tournament’s history.
The Iranian delegation, which included Football Federation President Mehdi Taj — a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — encountered severe difficulties upon arrival at Toronto Pearson Airport. Canadian authorities denied or turned back at least one key official, citing Canada’s 2024 designation of the IRGC as a terrorist entity.
Iranian state media condemned the treatment at the border as “unacceptable behaviour,” following which the group withdrew entirely. Some reports indicated that two delegates may have been permitted entry but chose not to attend in solidarity with those turned away. Canadian authorities later characterised any denial as “unintentional” in certain official statements.
The incident was not an isolated one. The Iranian delegation had encountered similar visa and entry complications at the preceding Asian Football Confederation Congress, held in the same city.
Despite the diplomatic turbulence, FIFA has confirmed Iran’s Group G fixtures will proceed as drawn, with all three matches scheduled for West Coast venues in the United States:
15 June 2026: Iran vs New Zealand — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
21 June 2026: Belgium vs Iran — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
26 June 2026: Egypt vs Iran — Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
FIFA has consistently rejected any requests to relocate Iran’s matches, maintaining that all teams must play according to the official draw. Iran face Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand in Group G.
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The diplomatic dimension extended to the White House. When asked about Infantino’s remarks, US President Donald Trump struck a characteristically casual tone, offering a permissive endorsement: “Well if Gianni said it I’m OK… You know what, let them play.”
Trump described the FIFA president as “a friend” and signalled no intention of blocking the team’s participation, a position consistent with earlier indications from Washington that the Iranian squad would be allowed to compete, even as officials with IRGC ties faced individual scrutiny.
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Not everyone shares Infantino’s determination to keep football and politics separate. Protesters gathered outside the Vancouver Convention Centre during the Congress, holding placards and calling on FIFA to ban the Iranian national team altogether. Their argument: the team represents the IRGC rather than the Iranian people, and allowing it to compete lends legitimacy to a government they hold responsible for widespread human rights abuses.
Infantino has repeatedly framed FIFA’s position in the language of inclusion — that football must transcend political divides and that Iran, having qualified on merit, must be allowed to represent its people. Critics contend the distinction between state, military institution, and football federation is far less clean than FIFA’s position implies.
Infantino’s remarks may have drawn a firm line on Iran’s participation, but they have not resolved the considerable logistical and diplomatic friction that will accompany the squad between now and kick-off. Visa arrangements, security protocols, and travel clearances for Iranian officials and players remain live concerns for a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico running from 11 June to 19 July 2026. FIFA insists it has no grounds to suspend Iran and will prioritise the tournament’s integrity.
The 76th Congress also addressed broader World Cup preparations and introduced new rules — among them penalties for players who cover their mouths during confrontational exchanges on the pitch — but it was Iran’s status that commanded the room from the opening address. Whether Infantino’s declaration settles the matter or merely delays the next flashpoint is a question that will almost certainly be answered before Iran’s opening match at SoFi Stadium on 15 June.