"Iran will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup," said Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani today at a press conference, APA reports.
She confirmed that Iran’s national team will participate in the World Cup and added that preparations for the tournament are underway.
Earlier, Iran’s Minister of Sports, Ahmad Donyamali, had stated that Iran would not participate in the 2026 World Cup. He said that security conditions were not suitable for the national team to compete.
U.S. President Donald Trump had also expressed doubts, stating that he did not believe participation would be appropriate from a safety and security standpoint for the Iranian team.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in the summer of 2026 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran is set to compete in Group G against Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.