FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that Iran will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be held in the United States. This confirmation comes despite the Iranian delegation's absence at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, where they were denied entry into Canada due to immigration issues. Infantino stated that it is crucial to unite people through football, reinforcing that there are no grounds for Iran's expulsion from FIFA. Iran's first match is scheduled for June 15, 2026, against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Following that, they will face Egypt in Seattle and Belgium back in Inglewood. Infantino previously ruled out the possibility of Iran playing in other countries, such as Mexico or Canada, amid ongoing tensions.