By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reiterated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will proceed as scheduled, firmly rejecting calls to relocate matches from the United States amid rising geopolitical tensions. Responding to appeals linked to concerns from Iran, Infantino emphasized that football’s governing body cannot intervene in global political disputes, while
By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, an unexpected geopolitical controversy has emerged over whether Iran national football team will participate in football’s biggest tournament, raising a complex question about authority in global sport: who ultimately decides, the host country or FIFA? The debate intensified following escalating tensions between the
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the Iran national football team would be welcome to compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but expressed concerns that it may not be appropriate for the team to attend due to safety risks. In a message posted on social media, Trump stated that while the Iranian