Iran will participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to commence on June 11, 2026, in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This announcement comes despite the ongoing war with the United States and Israel, which began on February 28, 2026. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed, “Iran will be at the World Cup,” emphasizing the organization’s commitment to fair play.
Iran has a strong history in international football, having qualified for four consecutive men’s World Cups and six of the last eight tournaments overall. Their first match in Group G will be against New Zealand on June 15, 2026, with all of Iran’s matches set to take place in the United States as scheduled.
The situation in Iran remains dire, with reports indicating that 170 people were killed in an airstrike on a school during the ongoing conflict. This backdrop adds complexity to Iran’s participation in the World Cup, raising questions about the safety and logistics of their matches.
In a related development, Kazakhstan has also participated in FIFA’s world series tournaments in 2026, with player Chesnokov being awarded the FIFA Series 2026 Player of the Tournament. Chesnokov has made 24 caps at the international level and scored 3 goals.
Meanwhile, a group of 23 European Parliament lawmakers is urging the EU Commission to investigate FIFA’s ticket-selling practices for the World Cup. They have raised concerns about FIFA’s dominant position in the ticket sales market, stating, “FIFA, as the exclusive primary seller of World Cup tickets, may hold a dominant position in the downstream ticket sales market.” This scrutiny comes as fans prepare for the upcoming tournament.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the outcome of FIFA’s negotiations with Iran concerning the location of their matches. The international community will be watching closely as the tournament approaches, balancing the excitement of the World Cup with the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.
