From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
FIFA’s Infantino says Trump assured him Iran can come to US for World Cup
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FIFA says it anticipates Iran’s national team will be allowed to come to the United States, even with war going on between the countries, and compete in the World Cup that begins in about three months.
Iran is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 before finishing group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The US is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Iranian officials have suggested recently that their country’s participation is in some doubt because of the war.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he met with US President Donald Trump last night “to discuss the status of preparations” for the tournament and received assurances that Iran would be permitted to come to the US.
“We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino says. “During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”
Infantino has a close relationship with Trump, who was given FIFA’s inaugural peace prize — an award that many believe the soccer governing body created with Trump in mind.
Fans from Iran were already banned from entering the US in the first iteration of a travel ban announced by the Trump administration.
The Times of Israel Community.