FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that the Iranian national team will participate in the 2026 World Cup, according to Voetbal International, citing CNBC.

In the group stage of the tournament, the Iranian team is scheduled to face New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. All matches are scheduled to be played in the United States.

Previously, there were reports that Iran might withdraw from the World Cup if the games involving it were not moved outside the United States, amid the escalating situation in the Middle East and the American involvement in the conflict. The option of holding the matches in Mexico was considered, but Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that FIFA rejected the idea for logistical reasons.

On CNBC, Infantino expressed confidence in the Iranian team's participation and called for keeping sports and politics separate.

"The Iranian team will come. Absolutely. We hope the situation will have normalized by then; that would be a big help. But the Iranian team, of course, must come; they must represent their nation. The team has qualified, and the players want to play. I saw them two weeks ago. They really do have a pretty good team. They just need to come. Sport should be outside of politics," Voetbal International quotes Infantino as saying.