FIFA chief says Iran “has to come” to World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Iran will participate in the upcoming World Cup, stressing that the team represents its people and should be allowed to compete despite geopolitical tensions.

“We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help,” Infantino told CNBC’s Sara Eisen at the CNBC Invest in America Forum on April 14 in Washington, D.C. “But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”

Infantino said he recently met members of the Iranian national team during their training camp in Antalya, Türkiye, where he said players expressed their desire to take part in the tournament.

“They should play – sports should be outside of politics,” Infantino said. “Now, okay – we don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth, but if there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them intact and together, well we are doing that.”

His remarks come as questions continue over Iran’s participation amid heightened U.S.–Iran tensions.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social in March that while Iran’s team would be “welcome” at the World Cup, “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”

Iran is scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches in the United States, including fixtures against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

By Sabina Mammadli