FIFA President Gianni Infantino made a plea for world peace after meeting US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Infantino also thanked President Trump for supporting the FIFA World Cup 2026 to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever,” said Infantino, according to an official FIFA Media post on X (formerly known as Twitter). “I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.”
Social media users in February posted videos of Infantino attending Trump’s Board of Peace meeting and wearing a red hat with “USA” written on it. Infantino had previously praised Trump’s attempts at resolving conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and elsewhere.
Football is the most popular sport in many countries with majority Muslim populations. Globalite Magazine recently photographed Infantino congratulating Moroccan players after they beat Argentina to win the FIFA Under-20 World Cup final in Santiago, Chile. Morocco will host the FIFA World Cup 2030 along with Portugal and Spain.
Infantino said that President Trump reiterated that the United States welcomes the Iranian soccer team to compete in the World Cup. Iran is scheduled to play Egypt in Seattle and both Belgium and New Zealand in Los Angeles, home to a large diaspora with roots in Iran.
Iranian officials have reportedly stated that Iran will not send a team to play in the United States after the US and Israel launched an extensive bombing campaign against Iran on February 28.
“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s soccer federation, told sports portal Varzesh3.
(UPDATE) Reuters reported on March 11 that Iran will not play at the World Cup. “Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali told Iran state television on March 11, according to Reuters. “Our children are not safe, and fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.”
While President Trump has publicly welcomed players and coaches from all teams, it’s not clear if US regulations would bar entry of fans from Iran or other countries under US sanctions.
CNN and other media reported that the Iranian delegation nearly boycotted last year’s draw in Washington, DC, after US authorities denied several of their visa applications. If Iran does not play, FIFA might look to send three teams from a play-off competition late March in Mexico instead of two. The teams vying for World Cup spots include Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq.
Iran qualified by dominating Asian qualifying rounds last year. But Iran did not attend the FIFA planning summit in Atlanta last week. Iran was planning to train in Tucson, Arizona.
Meanwhile, Australian authorities have granted asylum requests by several members of Iran’s women’s soccer team, who were competing in Australia. President Trump had earlier offered to grant them asylum in the United States.
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