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FIFA President Confirms Iran's World Cup Participation Amidst War
Iran's World Cup Participation Reconfirmed
Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, confirmed on April 15 (local time) during the CNBC 'Invest in American Forum' that Iran will participate in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, kicking off in June. Despite ongoing doubts surrounding Iran's involvement following attacks by the United States and Israel, Infantino stressed that Iran's participation is "for sure." He expressed his wish for the war situation to evolve into a peaceful one and stated that the Iranian national team deserves to represent their people and compete.
Emphasizing Separation of Sports and Politics
President Infantino recalled meeting the Iranian national team in Antalya, Turkey, noting their strong desire to play. He asserted that sports should be separated from politics, yet acknowledged that complete separation is not always possible on Earth. He emphasized the need for a bridge between sports and politics, a task that requires collective effort. Iran is scheduled to play all its Group G matches in the United States, which has been a contributing factor to the concerns about its participation. Iran has already secured its spot in the main tournament by topping Group A in the Asian qualifiers.
*Source: 뉴시스 (2026-04-16)*
