Iran will play World Cup games in US despite war, FIFA’s Infantino says
· Yahoo Sports
Iran will play their World Cup 2026 games at US venues as scheduled, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has insisted.
The Iranian football federation said earlier this month it was “negotiating” with FIFA to relocate the country’s World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, due to the US and Israel’s war with Iran.
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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said that her country is prepared to host Iran’s first-round matches at the tournament if needed.
“The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw,” the chief of football’s global governing body said on Tuesday.
The World Cup, being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, gets under way on June 11, with Iran set to play their first Group G game against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
Speaking at half-time of Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica on Tuesday, Infantino also moved to quell concerns that Iran will not feature at the next edition of the World Cup at all.
“Iran will be at the World Cup … That’s why we’re here,” Infantino told the news agency AFP at Iran’s warm-up match being staged in Turkiye.
“We’re delighted because they’re a very, very strong team, I’m very happy.”