Iran’s Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali has issued an updated stance on the nation’s participation in the 2026 World Cup after FIFA President Gianni Infantino claimed: “The Iranian team is coming for sure.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will get underway in just 51 days, with all 48 participants confirmed.
However, due to the ongoing conflict between US and Israeli forces and Iran, the latter’s participation in the tournament remains uncertain.
Several notable figures have spoken out on the topic in recent months, with US President Donald Trump previously stating that Iran were “welcome” to attend the World Cup, while also advising them to stay at home “for their own life and safety”.
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Iran’s football federation then requested that their matches be moved to co-hosts Mexico, with all three group fixtures – against Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand – currently scheduled to take place in the US.
If Iran reach the knockout stages, their matches would also take place in the US.
Despite the Iranian federation asking for the matches to be moved to Mexico, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed that FIFA has turned down the request.
Then, on April 15, FIFA President Infantino made clear that he believes Iran will take part in the tournament “for sure” when speaking at CNBC’s Invest in America Forum.
“The Iranian team is coming for sure, yes,” he said.
“We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful one. As I said, that would definitely help. But Iran has to come. Of course, they represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.
“They really want to play, and they should play. Sport should be outside of politics now.”
Iranian government issue World Cup update
Iran’s Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali has issued a further update in response to Infantino’s remarks.
“We had a discussion about the national team itself, the conditions of the national team, and we also formed a committee,” Donyamali said on Tuesday (April 21).
“Today we also have a meeting within the framework of this discussion, and we are fulfilling our legal duty.
“We must be prepared. In any case, it might be decided not to go. And if it is decided to go, we should be prepared anyway, so that our presence, if it is to be, is a strong presence. But again, I emphasise that, in this area, decision-making is based on the conditions that exist today, with the government and probably the National Security Council.”
Seventy-eight of the 104 matches will take place in the US, with the rest set to be played in Mexico and Canada.
Iran have competed in six World Cups, including the previous tournament in Qatar in 2022, during which they faced England and Wales.
Luke Davies