Ammon News - FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday that he met with United States President Donald Trump, who told him he welcomed Iran’s participation in the ​2026 Soccer World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico ‌and Canada.

Iran was the only nation missing from a FIFA planning summit for World Cup participants held last week in Atlanta, deepening questions over whether the country's soccer team will compete ​on U.S. soil this summer amid an escalating regional war.

Trump told Politico ​earlier that he is not concerned about Iran's participation, as they ⁠were a "very badly defeated country".
"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," soccer's world governing body, FIFA, boss Infantino said in a post on his official social media account.

"During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of ​course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.

"We all need ​an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and ‌I ⁠sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World."

Iran secured a trip to a fourth successive World Cup by topping Group A in the third round of Asian qualifying ​last year, but Mehdi ​Taj, president of ⁠the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said the viciousness of the attacks by U.S. and Israeli forces did ​not augur well for the World Cup, to be held ​from June ⁠11 to July 19.

The Iranians were grouped with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G. Their matches are scheduled to take place in the U.S., two in ⁠Los ​Angeles and one in Seattle.

If both the U.S. and ​Iran finish second in their respective groups, the two countries could meet in a July 3 elimination ​match in Dallas.

Reuters