"We look forward to seeing all teams at the tournament" - FIFA comments for the first time on Iran's participation in the World Cup
FIFA has addressed the situation surrounding Iran's national team at the 2026 World Cup. Amid the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East and sharp statements from politicians, the participation of the Iranian squad in the tournament on US soil has become one of the most hotly debated topics.
Details: In a comment to RMC Sport, FIFA representatives sought to ease tensions without making any concrete promises about relocating matches:
FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, to discuss preparations for the 2026 World Cup. We look forward to seeing all teams at the tournament according to the schedule announced on December 6, 2025," said a FIFA spokesperson.
It is worth recalling that the trigger for FIFA's response was a statement by the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj. He announced that "negotiations" were underway with FIFA about moving all of Iran's group stage matches from the USA to Mexico. Iran justifies its position with a statement from Donald Trump, who previously noted that he could not guarantee the complete safety of the Iranian delegation on American soil.
At this moment, the stance of football officials remains formal: all qualified countries are expected to compete according to the approved schedule in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Relocating matches to another country is extremely challenging logistically and highly unlikely, despite direct security threats and the lack of diplomatic guarantees from Washington.
It's worth noting that the World Cup is just around the corner, kicking off on June 11, 2026.
Reminder: Ronaldinho criticized Carlo Ancelotti for leaving Neymar out of Brazil's national team squad.
Steven Perez
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