VANCOUVER.- The president of the FIFA, Gianni Infantinoreiterated this Thursday that Iran will play their matches 2026 World Cup in USA as planned, in his opening speech at the Congress of the governing body of world football in Vancouver.
Soccer authorities met in the Canadian city in a high-risk meeting less than two months before the start of the World Cup that they jointly host. USA, Mexico and Canada.
The logistical challenges of the major World Cup of history and the still unresolved issue of international sanctions against Russia were high on the agenda among the approximately 1,600 delegates from more than 200 member associations.
At the beginning of his speech, Infantino directly addressed the big question hanging over the World Cup: the participation of the Iranian team on American soil.
The presence of the Iranian team has been shrouded in uncertainty since the outbreak of war in Middle Easttriggered on February 28 by the American and Israeli attacks against Tehran.
Infantino, who has repeatedly stated that Iran will be in football’s biggest event, reaffirmed that position as he began his speech.
“Let me start by confirming from the beginning that, of course, Iran will participate in the World Cup,” Infantino said. “And, of course, Iran will play in the United States of America.”
Trump gives the “OK”
Iran must face for Group G in Los Angeles to New Zealand (June 15) and Belgium (June 21) and later in seattle to Egypt (June 27). Their base camp is expected to be in Tucson, Arizona.
The Iranian authorities had considered the idea of moving their group stage matches to Mexicoa proposal that had already been ruled out by Infantino.
In a new twist, last week it was reported that a US special envoy had raised the possibility that Italy will occupy the World Cup place Iran. Washington He disassociated himself from that proposal.
After Infantino’s speech this Thursday, the American president, donald trumpgave his approval for the Iranian team to play in USA.
“Well, if Gianni said that, I’m fine with it,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “I say ‘let them play.'”
only absent
Tensions were latent during the preparation of the 76th FIFA Congress.
Iran was the only absentee among the 211 members of Congress following an incident with Canadian border officials earlier this week.
Responsible for the Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) left Canada abruptly after landing in toronto and they canceled the trip after Vancouver.
Iranian media reported on Wednesday that FFIRI president, Mehdi Tajand two colleagues returned home after being “insulted” by Canadian immigration agents.
Taj is a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards, a group that Canada designated as a terrorist organization in 2024.
Ottawa He stated on Wednesday that people linked to said body “have no place” in his territory.
Infantino under scrutiny
In addition to the Iranian issue, Infantino appeared at Thursday’s event under scrutiny, after criticism for the excessive increase in the price of World Cup tickets and his close friendship with Trump.
On Tuesday, FIFA announced that it had increased World Cup financial distributions to almost $900 million, up from the initial $727 million announced in December.
The move came after several qualifying teams reportedly warned that they risked losing money by participating in the tournament, citing the high cost of travel, taxes and general operations.
In turn, human rights organizations have asked Infantino to guarantee that visitors to the World Cup do not run the risk of being caught up in the Trump administration’s anti-immigration offensive.
Infantino also faces calls to remove the FIFA Peace Prizewhich he conceded to Trump during the World Cup draw held in December in Washington.
“We do not believe that it is part of FIFA’s mandate to award such an award,” the president of the Norwegian football federation said this week, Lise Klaveness.
Congress could also address the continuation of the suspension of Russia of international football, in force since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Infantino has spoken in favor of lifting the sanction.
