Trump reassures FIFA on Iran, but Tehran says World Cup participation is not possible

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published March 11, 2026

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Iran’s place at the 2026 World Cup has become more uncertain after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said U.S. President Donald Trump told him the Iranian team would be welcome at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The reassurance came after days of growing doubt over whether Iran would be able to play on U.S. soil amid war and escalating political tensions.

That did not settle the issue. Soon afterward, Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup under current conditions, citing the impact of U.S. and Israeli strikes and the domestic fallout inside Iran. The dispute has therefore shifted from a hosting and entry question to a political position coming from Tehran itself.

The stakes are high because Iran had already qualified and was drawn in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with its matches scheduled in the United States, including two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Iran was also the only qualified team absent from FIFA’s planning summit in Atlanta last week, adding to doubts about its tournament plans.

The story matters beyond football because it shows how the World Cup is being pulled into the overlap between sport, war and diplomacy. For now, Trump’s message to FIFA has not ended the uncertainty, and any discussion of sanctions or a replacement team would depend on whether Iran makes its non-participation official.