Trump Assures FIFA Iran Is Welcome at 2026 World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino says Donald Trump personally assured him that Iran's national team will be permitted to participate in the 2026 World Cup on American soil, delivering a diplomatic signal that cuts against the backdrop of active military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Infantino met with Trump on Tuesday night and posted about the exchange on Instagram shortly after midnight, writing that "President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States." He added: "We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever," and thanked Trump for his support.

The assurance carries weight precisely because it was not obvious. Iranian officials had recently questioned whether their team could realistically participate given the prevailing conflict. An earlier iteration of the Trump administration's travel ban had already barred Iranian fans from entering the United States, and no formal visa or entry framework has been publicly established for either the Iranian squad or its supporters ahead of the tournament.

Trump's posture has also shifted. Just last week, he told reporters he "really don't care" whether Iran takes part in the 48-nation tournament. Infantino's account of Tuesday's meeting suggests a more definitive position has since emerged, at least in private conversation.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19. Iran qualified through Asian qualifying and is placed in Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Its scheduled fixtures put the team squarely in the American heartland of the tournament: Iran opens against New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, California, faces Belgium on June 21, also in Inglewood, and concludes the group stage against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

FIFA's World Cup chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi framed the situation in blunt terms. "The World Cup is too big and we hope that everyone can participate that has qualified," he said, adding that FIFA is monitoring the conflict with Iran daily. "We basically take it day by day and at some stage we will have a resolution."

The stakes for the United States as host are considerable. Refusing to accommodate a qualified team could, according to tournament rules, expose the U.S. to removal as a host nation by FIFA, a consequence that would carry enormous financial and reputational costs.

Infantino's relationship with Trump has been notably warm. Trump received FIFA's inaugural peace prize, an award that many observers believe was created with him specifically in mind, a detail that lends particular context to the FIFA president's willingness to seek and publicly amplify Trump's assurances.

What remains unresolved is the practical architecture behind Tuesday's diplomatic moment. No White House statement, State Department guidance, or Department of Homeland Security policy has been issued to formalize the entry of Iranian players, officials, or fans. Infantino's account rests on a private conversation, and the gap between a presidential reassurance and a functioning visa regime is one FIFA will need to close before Iran's squad boards a plane for California.