By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
President of world football’s governing body Gianni Infantino has revealed that Donald Trump assured him that Iran national football team will be welcomed to compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Iran.
Infantino disclosed the development after meeting with the U.S. president to review preparations for the upcoming tournament, which is scheduled to kick off in just over three months and will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In a statement shared on social media, the FIFA chief said the meeting focused on the readiness for the global showpiece as well as the broader political climate surrounding Iran’s participation.
“This evening, I met with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and the growing excitement as we are set to kick off in just 93 days,” Infantino wrote.
He added that the discussion also touched on the current tensions in the Middle East and the fact that Iran has already qualified for the tournament.
“We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said. “During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”
Iran’s participation had come under scrutiny following recent hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which raised concerns about whether the Iranian squad would be allowed to enter the country for the tournament.
However, Infantino emphasized that the World Cup should remain a platform for unity, thanking the U.S. president for supporting the idea that football can bring people together even during periods of global tension.
“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever,” he said, adding that the support from the U.S. government shows once again that “football unites the world.”
Iran secured qualification for the 2026 finals during the Asian qualifiers and has been drawn into a group that includes Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with several of its matches scheduled to take place in the United States.
The expanded 2026 tournament will feature 48 teams competing across host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, making it the largest World Cup in the competition’s history.
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