FIFA President Gianni Infantino has refused to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the United States despite clear warnings from US President Donald Trump about the safety of Iranian players.
Infantino made clear during a visit to Turkey on Tuesday that there were no plans to change the schedule, even as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to rise amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Read the full article
“No, no, the games will be where they should be according to the draw,” Infantino said in Antalya, where Iran is currently holding a training camp.
REQUEST OF IRAN FIFA
Iran, who qualified for the tournament last year, are expected to play all of their Group G matches on American soil, with matches in Los Angeles and Seattle against Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
The comments come amid growing uncertainty over Iran’s involvement. Iran’s football federation has asked FIFA to move its matches to Mexico, citing security concerns amid the ongoing conflict.
This request was also linked to a wider political decision at home. Iran’s sports ministry has banned national and club teams from traveling to countries it considers hostile, a list that effectively includes the United States given the current conflict between the US and Israel.
FIFA World Cup: THE THREAT OF DONALD TRUMP
Trump had previously stirred the debate by suggesting that even if Iran were allowed to participate in the World Cup, it might not be appropriate for it to do so.
“The Iranian national soccer team is welcome at the World Cup, but I really don’t think it’s appropriate for them to be there, for their own lives and safety,” Trump said.
He later clarified that any threat to the players would not come from the United States, but the statement added to the uncertainty surrounding Iran’s matches in the country.
Despite this, Infantino struck a firm tone, insisting the tournament will go ahead as planned.
“It looks like we will be in the right place. We are delighted because they are a very, very strong team,” he said after watching Iran’s 5-0 win over Costa Rica.
At the same time, the FIFA president tried to calm the Iranian camp and offered the team support in preparation for the tournament.
“From now until the World Cup, I will do what I can to support the Iranian national team,” Infantino said.
The announcement added more drama to the build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
FIFA’s stance remains unchanged for now. Iran will play its matches in the United States according to the draw, with no plans to change venues.
However, this leaves a difficult question hanging. With Tehran restricting travel to “hostile” countries and FIFA unwilling to move matches, Iran may be forced to make a call on whether it can participate in the tournament under current conditions.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
April 1, 2026 12:49 PM IST
