The Iranian national football team will participate in the 2026 World Cup, with the United States hosting their matches, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, as quoted by BBC Sport.
On Tuesday, March 31, Infantino held a meeting with the Iranian national football team. During communication with the team and the team leaders, it was decided that Iran will play in this year's World Cup, and the team's matches will be held in the United States as planned.
“Iran will be at the World Cup. We are happy because it is a very, very strong team, I am very happy. The matches will be played where they are supposed to be played, according to the draw,” said Gianni Infantino.
The team's participation in the World Cup was in question after the US and Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iranian territory in late February. After that, both countries (the US and Iran) made different statements regarding the team's participation in the tournament.