FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday that Iran will participate in the upcoming World Cup despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.“Iran will be at the World Cup… That’s why we’re here. We’re delighted because it’s a very, very strong team, I’m very happy,” Infantino said at halftime during Iran’s friendly with Costa Rica in Turkey, as quoted by the AFP news agency.Infantino further emphasized that Iran’s “matches will be played where they should be, according to the draw”.Earlier, in an interview with N+, the FIFA president said: “Iran represents its people, those who live in Iran and those who live abroad. They qualified for this World Cup on the pitch; they were a team that qualified very early. It’s not plan B, C or D”: it’s a football-mad country. We want them to play; they will play in the World Cup and we live in world A, C, or D; there are no real plans.” we know what the situation is, which is very complicated, but we are working and we want to make sure that Iran plays this World Cup in the best conditions.”Iran’s soccer federation previously said it was “negotiating” with FIFA to move World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico because of the US-Israeli war with Iran.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said that Mexico is ready to host Iran’s first-round matches if necessary.The World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will begin on June 11. Iran is scheduled to play its first Group G match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.Infantino earlier said that Donald Trump had assured that the Iranian team would be allowed to participate. The team will face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle.But Trump later said the Iranian team should not travel to the tournament “for their own lives and safety.”Iran responded by saying “no one can exclude the Iranian national team from the World Cup”.Infantino attended Tuesday’s match near Antalya, although his visit was not announced in advance and the media was kept out of the area where he sat.Iran also played a friendly against Nigeria in Belek last Friday. During this match, the players wore black armbands and school bags during the national anthem to remember those killed in the strike on a primary school in Iran on the first day of the war.The raid, which took place on February 28 in the southern city of Minab, killed at least 170 people, including students and teachers.
