Iran will participate in the 2026 [1] FIFA World Cup and will play its group stage matches in the U.S. [2].

The decision resolves uncertainty regarding whether political tensions between Tehran and Washington would force a change in venue or the team's participation. Because the World Cup is a global event with rigid scheduling, any late-stage alteration to the group stage locations would create significant logistical challenges for organizers and fans.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino affirmed the plan during the FIFA Congress [3]. He said the Iranian national team will take part in the tournament as originally planned [4]. The group stage matches for Iran are scheduled to take place within the U.S. [5].

This confirmation comes after reports that FIFA had rejected a proposal to replace Iran with Italy for the 2026 [1] tournament [6]. The governing body decided to maintain the original tournament schedule and venue plan despite the diplomatic friction between the two nations [7].

The tournament is scheduled to take place during June and July of 2026 [8]. The U.S. serves as one of the primary hosts for the event, and the decision to keep Iran in its assigned U.S. venues signals a commitment to the neutrality of the sport over geopolitical disputes [7].

“Iran will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will play its group stage matches in the U.S.”

By refusing to move Iran's matches or replace the team, FIFA is asserting the principle of sporting autonomy. This decision prevents a diplomatic crisis from altering the competitive structure of the tournament and ensures that the U.S. must provide the necessary security and visas for the Iranian delegation to compete on American soil.