Gianni Infantino confirmed that Iran remains part of the 2026 World Cup tournament. The Fifa president spoke during a governing body congress held in Canada, where Iranian football officials were notably absent from proceedings. Recent reports from Reuters indicated that the delegation missed the event due to visa issues.
Infantino dismissed suggestions that the team might face exclusion from the upcoming finals. He stated that the sporting criteria for qualification remain the priority for the tournament, which the United States, Mexico, and Canada will co-host. Iran secured their place through the Asian qualifying rounds earlier this year.
The absence of the Iranian Football Federation representatives at the meeting had led to questions regarding their status. However, Fifa officials clarified that administrative hurdles caused the non-attendance rather than disciplinary measures. The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time in the history of the competition, according to Sky Sports. Preparations continue across the 16 host cities as the tournament approaches.
