Sports 16 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
FIFA's Infantino Confident Iran Will Compete in 2026 World Cup Despite US Tensions
FIFA President Gianni Infantino insists Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup, emphasizing that the qualified team and players are eager to play despite political hurdles and safety concerns from the US. Iran's group stage matches are set in the United States, including games against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/world-cup/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-iran-for-sure-playing-in-world-cup-5425616
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed strong confidence that Iran will take part in the upcoming 2026 World Cup in North America, brushing aside objections from Iran’s sports minister and US President Donald Trump over the ongoing conflict and player safety.
Infantino, who recently visited the Iranian team’s training camp in Antalya, Turkey, highlighted the players’ desire to compete. ‘Iran has to come. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play,’ he told CNBC.
He stressed that sports must transcend politics, stating, ‘They should play — sports should be outside of politics.’ Infantino hopes for a peaceful resolution by the tournament but remains optimistic.
Iran, an early qualifier for the event expected to generate over $11 billion, faces a tough group schedule entirely in the US: opening against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. Further matches, if they advance, would also be stateside. Iran sought to relocate games to Mexico but was turned down by FIFA.
No team has withdrawn from a World Cup since 1950. Amid massive ticket demand with over 500 million requests from 211 countries, Infantino prioritizes security, defining success as incident-free games and thrilling football action.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)