US Welcomes Iran's Participation in FIFA World Cup 2026 Amid Controversies

US Stance on Iran's FIFA World Cup 2026 Participation

The United States has expressed its position regarding Iran's involvement in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, indicating no objections to their participation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that while the Iranian football team is welcome to compete, individuals associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will not be permitted entry. The tournament is scheduled to commence on June 11 and will take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Rubio mentioned, “Nothing from the U.S. has told them they can’t come.” He added, “The issue with Iran is not their athletes, but rather some individuals they might wish to bring, many of whom have connections to the IRGC. We may not allow them in, but the athletes themselves are not the problem.” He further emphasized, “They can’t bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers.” The IRGC has been classified by Washington as a “foreign terrorist organization.”

FIFA's Position on Iran and Italy

FIFA Confirms No Plans To Swap Iran With Italy

Amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, there were concerns regarding Iran's participation in the World Cup. However, Iran has remained optimistic about its involvement. There were suggestions to replace Iran with Italy, a four-time World Cup champion that has not qualified for the tournament for three consecutive years. US special envoy Paolo Zampolli proposed this idea, stating to the Financial Times, "I confirm I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I'm an Italian native, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion." Nevertheless, FIFA has dismissed any such replacement. While it did not directly respond to Zampolli's comments, it reiterated FIFA President Gianni Infantino's statement that Iran should participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Infantino expressed hope for a peaceful situation by then, emphasizing that Iran has qualified and possesses a strong team that deserves to compete, stating, “Sports should be outside of politics.”