Cairo, Egypt – FIFA has confirmed its commitment to holding Iran’s first-round matches at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, as per the official tournament schedule. Moreover, it has also rejected any changes to the match venues. Iran is in Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. They are scheduled to play their first two matches in Los Angeles. Then they will face Egypt in Seattle.
Iranian position
Iranian officials stated that their objection does not extend to participation in the World Cup itself. Instead, their concern relates to the national team playing its matches in the United States under the current security circumstances. They added that they would prefer Iran’s matches to be moved to Mexico. In addition, they also cited concerns regarding the safety of the delegation and difficulties related to visa procedures. However, they emphasized that they are not seeking to boycott the tournament.
This stance aligns with a previous statement from the Iranian Ministry of Sports, which announced a ban on Iranian national teams and clubs traveling to countries Tehran considers “hostile” or unable to guarantee the safety of Iranian athletes. The ministry also tasked sports authorities with informing the continental federation and working to relocate matches. However, the Iranian statement did not explicitly mention the World Cup. Consequently, this adds further political and security dimensions to the controversy surrounding the national team’s matches in the United States.
American position
On the American side, US authorities maintain that the existing legal framework still imposes broad restrictions on the entry of Iranian citizens. Iran remains among the countries subject to a complete suspension of entry under the presidential proclamation published in the Federal Register. However, these restrictions include an explicit exception for athletes and team members, including coaches, support staff, and their immediate family members. This applies when they are traveling to participate in the World Cup or similar major sporting events. The US State Department clarifies that this exception does not apply to fans or spectators, even if they qualify for the special visa appointment mechanism related to the World Cup. Therefore, this means that the entry of the Iranian national team appears legally possible. Nevertheless, the issue of fans attending remains more complex and subject to standard visa procedures.
Thus, Iran’s final stance on participation remains somewhat unclear, especially after FIFA insisted on holding the matches according to the announced schedule without modification. While Tehran maintains that its objection pertains to the venue, not to participation itself, attention is focused on whether it will deal with the matter within the existing arrangements. Alternatively, it may adopt a more stringent position in the next phase. This remains pending its official announcement.
