With high uncertainty over Iran's participation in the World Cup, Gianni Infantino (56), president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), expressed his determination to push ahead head-on.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on the 20th (Korea time), Infantino showed a hard-line stance at an online FIFA Council meeting held in Zurich, Switzerland, saying that despite instability in the Middle East and Iran's "refusal to play the United States," all teams must participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America as planned.
Infantino said FIFA expects all teams participating in the World Cup to compete in the spirit of fair play and mutual respect, adding, We have a fixed schedule. The 48 participating countries will be confirmed soon, and we want the World Cup to go ahead as planned.
But whether Iran will actually compete in the World Cup is currently uncertain, obscured by the flames of war in the Middle East. As planned, Iran, in group G, would play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles and then Egypt in Seattle in the group stage.
The problem is that Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, has recently strongly refused to hold Iran national team matches in the United States, citing recent U.S.-Israel attacks on his country.
In a recently released video, Taj said, We are not boycotting the World Cup but boycotting the United States, and that he has begun negotiations with FIFA to move matches in the United States to joint hosts Canada or Mexico.
Mexico responded immediately. Claudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexico, said Mexico is prepared to host Iran's group-stage matches if necessary, indicating willingness to accommodate.
But Infantino drew a line on changing venues, saying FIFA cannot resolve geopolitical conflicts but is committed to using the power of football and the World Cup to build bridges and promote peace, and that our hearts are with those suffering from ongoing war.
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