Iran has confirmed its participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be held in North America, saying it is fully prepared for the global tournament.
According to Arab media reports, Iranian officials have announced that the national football team is ready to compete in the event.
Government spokesperson Fatima Mahajrani told state broadcaster that the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has finalized all necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth and successful participation for the team.
She added that these preparations were made on the instructions of the Minister of Sports, in order to provide the team with the best possible facilities.
It is also worth noting that FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on April 16 that Iran would participate in the World Cup, adding: “Iran wants to come; they represent their people, and the players want to play. Sports need to be kept separate from politics.”
The tournament will take place from June 6 to July 11 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Iran will play its WC matches in US
Iran will play its World Cup 2026 matches in the United States as planned, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had earlier stated, despite calls to move them due to tensions in the region.
The match fixtures, scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, are to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Earlier the past month, the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) called for Iran’s three Group G fixtures to be relocated from the United States to Mexico. This is in response to the recent tense political and armed conflict, with Iran citing that the United States has participated in regional attacks alongside Israel.
The FFIRI also reported that it had been in talks with FIFA about a potential relocation. Meanwhile, the sports ministry in Iran has barred national and provincial teams from visiting countries it deems enemies of the state, adding to the complexity of the issue.
But Infantino dismissed any potential for changes to the match locations, noting that games would follow the locations decided for the matches.
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