FIFA President Infantino Confirms Iran Will Play All Three Group-Stage Matches on US Soil — Despite Sports Minister's 'Under No Circumstances' Statement

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver on May 1 that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup and play all three group-stage matches on US soil, directly contradicting Iran Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali's April 30 statement that Iran 'under no circumstances' can participate. Infantino's rationale: 'We have to unite. We have to bring people together.' President Trump endorsed the decision. Iran remains in Group G with matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (vs. New Zealand, June 15; vs. Belgium, June 21) and Lumen Field in Seattle (vs. Egypt, June 26). Notably, the FIFA Congress proceeded with Iran's football federation entirely absent — federation president Mehdi Taj and two senior officials had been denied entry to Canada at Toronto Pearson Airport the previous day due to alleged IRGC ties, which Canadian authorities cited under Canada's 2024 IRGC terrorist designation. The confirmation effectively overrides the Sports Ministry's political objection: under FIFA's governance framework, it is the football federation — not the government ministry — that formally decides squad submission. Infantino indicated he would meet the Iranian delegation in Zurich. The formal squad submission deadline for all 48 nations is June 1. Iran's participation crisis remains unresolved at the government level despite FIFA's confirmation.