FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said Iran will participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup and play its group matches in the United States as scheduled, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking to AFP on Tuesday during half-time of Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey, Infantino expressed confidence that the team’s participation would go ahead as planned.
“Iran will be at the World Cup,” Infantino said.
“That’s why we’re here. We’re delighted because they’re a very, very strong team, I’m very happy.”
“I’ve seen the team, I’ve spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine,” he added, noting that his attendance at the match had not been previously announced.
Infantino also stressed that Iran’s fixtures would remain unchanged.
“Iran’s matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw,” he said.
The World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, is scheduled to kick off on June 11.
Iran are due to play their first Group G match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They will then face Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 27.
Iran’s participation had earlier been thrown into doubt following the war involving the United States and Israel that erupted on February 28.
Earlier this month, the Iranian football federation said it was “negotiating” with FIFA about relocating the country’s World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also indicated that her country was ready to host Iran’s group-stage matches if necessary.
Infantino had initially stated that US President Donald Trump had assured that the Iranian team would still be welcomed at the tournament. However, Trump later suggested that Iran’s team should not travel to the competition “for their own life and safety”.
Iran responded to the remarks, insisting that “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup”.
On March 19, Infantino reiterated FIFA’s commitment to ensuring the tournament proceeds as planned with all qualified teams participating.
“FIFA is looking forward to all teams participating at the World Cup to compete in a spirit of fair play and mutual respect,” he said during an online FIFA Council meeting from Zurich.
“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,” Infantino added.
Iran recently played another friendly against Nigeria in the Turkish town of Belek last Friday.
During that match, Iranian players wore black armbands and posed with school rucksacks during the national anthem to honour victims of a strike on a primary school in Iran on the first day of the Middle East conflict.
The airstrike on the school in the southern Iranian city of Minab on February 28 reportedly killed at least 170 people, including students and teachers.
According to a report by The New York Times, preliminary findings from a US military investigation suggest that a US Tomahawk cruise missile struck the school due to a targeting error.
