The head of the international soccer body FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has confirmed that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup this summer and will play the scheduled matches on US soil, despite the ongoing war, reports Anadolu.

“Iran will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and of course Iran will play in the USA,” Infantino said at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver. Canada.

He argued that the decision is based on the responsibility to “bring people together”, stressing that football remains a unique force that “unites the world” amid global divisions.

Iran qualified for the tournament, which starts on June 11 in the US, Canada and Mexico. The team is expected to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, as well as Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Iran’s request to move its matches to Mexico, one of the co-host countries, was rejected by FIFA.

However, the path to participation remains very uncertain. Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said the country could not participate “under any circumstances,” citing the Feb. 28 assassination of then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei at the start of the U.S.-Israeli offensive. To the world, he does not think it is appropriate for them to participate “for their life and safety”.

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Source: prizrenpost