Miami. FIFA said Tuesday it expects Iran’s national team will be allowed to enter the United States to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite ongoing hostilities between the two countries.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he spoke with Donald Trump and received assurances that the Iranian team would be permitted to travel to the US for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

Iran is scheduled to play its opening match in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand national football team on June 15, followed by a game against Belgium national football team on June 21. Iran will finish group play against Egypt national football team in Seattle on June 26.

Iranian officials have recently suggested that their participation in the 48-team tournament could be uncertain because of the ongoing war.

Last week, Trump said he “really doesn’t care” whether Iran takes part in the tournament.

Infantino said he met with Trump on Tuesday evening to discuss preparations for the World Cup and the broader political situation.

“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 wrote in an Instagram post. “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 maintained a close relationship with Trump, who was previously awarded FIFA’s inaugural peace prize — an honor critics say was effectively created with the former president in mind.

Travel restrictions could complicate attendance for Iranian supporters. Fans from Iran were already barred from entering the United States under an earlier version of the Trump administration’s travel ban.

“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever,” Infantino said, thanking Trump for his support.

Earlier this week, FIFA World Cup chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi said the tournament is too large to postpone despite global instability linked to the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.

“We basically take it day by day and at some stage we will have a resolution,” Schirgi said. “And the World Cup will go on, obviously. The World Cup is too big and we hope that everyone who has qualified can participate.”

If the United States were to refuse entry to Iran’s team, it could risk losing its hosting role. A similar situation occurred in 2023 when Indonesia was stripped of hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup after opposing the participation of Israel. FIFA later moved the event to Argentina

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