Infantino Confident Iran Will Compete at World Cup Despite Political Tensions

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed confidence that Iran will participate in this summer’s FIFA World Cup, despite escalating geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding the tournament.

Speaking at CNBC’s Invest in America Forum in Washington, Infantino stated that Iran’s presence at the competition is assured, emphasizing that the team has earned its place.

“Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play,” he said.

Infantino also revealed that he recently visited the Iranian national team during their training camp in Antalya, Türkiye, where players reiterated their desire to compete on the global stage. He stressed that football should remain separate from political conflicts, even amid challenging circumstances.

The tournament, set to kick off on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will see Iran face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle later in the group stage. A request by Iran to have its matches relocated to Mexico was reportedly declined by FIFA.

However, uncertainty continues to surround Iran’s participation. The country’s sports minister had earlier stated that Iran could not take part “under any circumstances,” citing security concerns following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during a recent US-Israeli offensive.

Adding to the concerns, US President Donald Trump said last month that while Iran’s team would be welcome, he questioned whether attending the tournament would be safe for them.

Despite these tensions, Infantino expressed hope that conditions would stabilize before the competition begins, allowing the focus to remain on football rather than politics.

The situation underscores the complex intersection of global sports and international relations, as FIFA navigates efforts to ensure participation while maintaining neutrality amid ongoing conflict.