FIFA president Gianni Infantino has revealed that Iran will be permitted to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following discussions with United States President Donald Trump.

Infantino disclosed on Wednesday that he personally spoke with Trump about Iran’s involvement in the tournament, which begins in June across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Writing on Instagram, the FIFA chief said their conversation centred on preparations for the competition and growing anticipation ahead of kick-off.

The update comes amid rising tensions after American and Israeli military strikes on Iran reportedly killed the country’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliatory attacks across the Middle East.

Iran has already qualified for the expanded 48-team tournament and is scheduled to play group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.

However, uncertainty over their participation intensified after Iranian officials failed to attend a World Cup planning meeting in Atlanta last week involving participating nations.

Infantino said the matter was addressed directly during his conversation with Trump.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino wrote on Instagram.

“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World.”
The FIFA president accompanied the message with football and globe emojis, along with a heart.

Trump had earlier appeared less enthusiastic about Iran’s involvement. Speaking to Politico last week, he said: “I really don’t care (if Iran participates). I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”

Infantino and Trump have developed a close relationship during the president’s two terms in office. The FIFA chief attended Trump’s pre-inauguration rally and inauguration last January and has appeared at several briefings in the Oval Office.

During the World Cup draw in Washington in December, Infantino also presented Trump with a newly created FIFA Peace Prize, introduced to honour individuals who “have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world.”

Meanwhile, the chief executive of the United States Soccer Federation, JT Batson, has backed Iran’s inclusion.

“FIFA president Gianni Infantino shared over the weekend the intention of a safe and secure World Cup where all teams are participating. And we’re certainly very supportive of that,” Batson told Sky News.

Despite the political tensions, FIFA insists the tournament will go ahead as planned.

FIFA chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi said the scale of the competition makes postponement unrealistic.

“The 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is just three months away and will feature 48 teams for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Speaking at the International Broadcast Centre in Dallas on Monday, Schirgi said: “At some stage, we will have a resolution, and the World Cup will go on, obviously. The World Cup is too big, and we hope that everyone that has qualified can participate.”