FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 as no replacement will be needed for the West Asian nation. This comes after Iran and the United States, one of the three co-hosts, are currently involved in a near-war situation. While tensions remain high on diplomatic terms, Infantino’s latest comments mean there will be no compromise on the sports side and Iran will travel to North America for the quadrennial event.<h2>Iran to play in FIFA World Cup 2026</h2>"Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026," Infantino said. "And of course, Iran will play (in) the United States of America."&nbsp;Infantino, who has repeatedly stated that Iran will be at the World Cup, underscored that stance at the start of his address to delegates in Vancouver.&nbsp;Iranian officials had floated the idea of shifting their group games from the United States to Mexico, but that proposal had already been nixed by Infantino. In a further twist last week, Italy-born US special envoy Paolo Zampolli was reported to have floated the idea of Italy taking Iran's World Cup place. The US government later distanced themselves from that proposal, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying Iran's footballers would be welcome.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;But the tension surrounding Iran's World Cup participation rumbled into the build-up to Thursday's FIFA Congress. Iran was the only absentee from the 211-member congress as Thursday's meeting got underway after a clash with Canadian border officials earlier this week.&nbsp;Officials from the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) abruptly left Canada after landing in Toronto, abandoning their onward trip to Vancouver. Iranian media said FFIRI president Mehdi Taj, a former member of Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and two colleagues flew home after being "insulted" by Canadian immigration officers.&nbsp;Canada, which designated the IRGC a terrorist organization in 2024, said Wednesday that individuals linked to the force were "inadmissible."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;"While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country," Canada's immigration agency said in a statement.&nbsp;Iran, who are due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G. The Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has repeatedly stated that Iran will be at the World Cup, underscored that stance at the start of his address to delegates in Vancouver.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 as no replacement will be needed for the West Asian nation. This comes after Iran and the United States, one of the three co-hosts, are currently involved in a near-war situation. While tensions remain high on diplomatic terms, Infantino’s latest comments mean there will be no compromise on the sports side and Iran will travel to North America for the quadrennial event. Iran to play in FIFA World Cup 2026 "Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026," Infantino said. "And of course, Iran will play (in) the United States of America." Infantino, who has repeatedly stated that Iran will be at the World Cup, underscored that stance at the start of his address to delegates in Vancouver. Iranian officials had floated the idea of shifting their group games from the United States to Mexico, but that proposal had already been nixed by Infantino. In a further twist last week, Italy-born US special envoy Paolo Zampolli was reported to have floated the idea of Italy taking Iran's World Cup place. The US government later distanced themselves from that proposal, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying Iran's footballers would be welcome. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions But the tension surrounding Iran's World Cup participation rumbled into the build-up to Thursday's FIFA Congress. Iran was the only absentee from the 211-member congress as Thursday's meeting got underway after a clash with Canadian border officials earlier this week. Officials from the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) abruptly left Canada after landing in Toronto, abandoning their onward trip to Vancouver. Iranian media said FFIRI president Mehdi Taj, a former member of Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and two colleagues flew home after being "insulted" by Canadian immigration officers. Canada, which designated the IRGC a terrorist organization in 2024, said Wednesday that individuals linked to the force were "inadmissible." ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL "While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country," Canada's immigration agency said in a statement. Iran, who are due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G. The Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has repeatedly stated that Iran will be at the World Cup, underscored that stance at the start of his address to delegates in Vancouver.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Gianni Infantino confirms Iran's participation; Trump's three-word reply goes viral

A Dubai-bound flight carrying the wife and daughter of former football national team captain Ali Daei, who has supported anti-government protests, was re-routed by the Iranian authorities, preventing them from leaving the country.

Iranian football legend Ali Daei says family ordered off flight, barred from leaving country

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FIFA World Cup 2026: Gianni Infantino confirms Iran's participation; Trump's three-word reply goes viral

Iranian football legend Ali Daei says family ordered off flight, barred from leaving country