Iran's World Cup Journey Confirmed for United States
FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared on Tuesday that Iran "will be at the World Cup" and will play all their group stage matches in the United States as initially scheduled, effectively putting an end to swirling speculation regarding their participation. The definitive statement comes amidst heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Infantino's Resolute Confirmation
Speaking at half-time during Iran's friendly match against Costa Rica in Turkey, an unannounced visit, Infantino expressed his delight. "Iran will be at the World Cup," he stated firmly. "That's why we're here. We're delighted because they're a very, very strong team, I'm very happy." He added that he had personally spoken with the players and the coach, assuring that "everything is fine."
The FIFA chief further emphasized that Iran's "matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw," dismissing any notion of relocation.
Iran's Group G World Cup Schedule
The World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is set to kick off on June 11. Iran's Group G fixtures are confirmed as follows:
- June 15: vs. New Zealand in Los Angeles
- June 21: vs. Belgium in Los Angeles
- June 27: vs. Egypt in Seattle
A Tumultuous Road to Confirmation
Iran's involvement in the global tournament had been thrown into significant doubt following the outbreak of a war involving the US and Israel on February 28. Earlier this month, the Iranian football federation had publicly stated it was "negotiating" with FIFA to potentially move the country's World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico. Even Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had expressed her country's readiness to host if required.
Adding to the uncertainty, US President Donald Trump initially offered assurances of the Iranian team's welcome, only to later reverse his stance, suggesting the team should not travel "for their own life and safety." Iran quickly retorted, asserting that "no one can exclude Iran's national team from the World Cup."
Football's Role Amidst Geopolitical Strife
Infantino had previously addressed the broader issue on March 19, stating FIFA's commitment to ensuring the World Cup proceeds "as scheduled" with "all teams" participating. From Zurich, during an online FIFA Council meeting, he affirmed, "FIFA is looking forward to all teams participating at the World Cup to compete in a spirit of fair play and mutual respect."
Acknowledging the larger global context, Infantino added, "FIFA can't solve geopolitical conflicts, but we are committed to using the power of football and the World Cup to build bridges and promote peace as our thoughts are with those who are suffering as a consequence of the ongoing wars."
Team Melli's Preparations Marked by Somber Tributes
Beyond the diplomatic discussions, the Iranian national team, known as Team Melli, has been actively preparing. Prior to Tuesday's match against Costa Rica, they played a friendly against Nigeria in Belek, Turkey, last Friday.
During their recent matches, Iranian players made a powerful gesture of remembrance. They wore black armbands and posed with school rucksacks as the national anthem played, honoring the victims of a devastating strike on a primary school in Iran on the first day of the Middle East war. This tragic incident, occurring on February 28 in the southern Iranian city of Minab, claimed the lives of at least 170 people, including students and teachers. The New York Times subsequently reported that preliminary findings from a US military investigation suggested a US Tomahawk cruise missile struck the school due due to a targeting mistake.