FIFA President Gianni Infantino reaffirmed Iran's participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. His announcement came during FIFA's 76th Congress in Vancouver, amid concerns regarding Iran's involvement due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Infantino stated, "Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026," drawing approval from U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed his support for Iran's inclusion.

Iran's football federation faced complications with Canadian immigration officials, leading to their withdrawal from the Congress. Infantino dismissed proposals to shift Iran's games to Mexico, maintaining that they would play in the U.S. Iran is set to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the tournament and will face teams like New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in Group G.

Despite criticisms regarding rising ticket prices for the World Cup, Infantino assured that revenues, estimated between $11 billion and $13 billion, would be reinvested into football development globally. He also gained significant support for his potential re-election in 2027 from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which collectively hold 101 votes in FIFA's presidential election.