Gianni Infantino: the matchup, the stakes, the verdict

Fifa president Gianni Infantino says Iran will be at the 2026 World Cup, while Iranian officials are absent from the world football governing body's congress in Canada. Gianni Infantino has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Bangladesh.

Key facts

• Fifa president Gianni Infantino says Iran will be at the 2026 World Cup, while Iranian officials are absent from the world football governing body's congress in Canada.
• VancouverFIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play their World Cup games in the United States as scheduled on Thursday as he kicked off the global football body's summit in Vancouver.
• FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has said Iran will play their World Cup matches, leading to agreement from US President.
• Iranian officials had floated the idea of shifting their group games from the United States to Mexico, but that proposal had already been nixed by Infantino.
• “Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said at the scheduled meeting of football’s power-brokers in Vancouver.

What we know

Going deeper, VancouverFIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play their World Cup games in the United States as scheduled on Thursday as he kicked off the global football body's summit in Vancouver.

On the substance, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has said Iran will play their World Cup matches, leading to agreement from US President.

Beyond the headlines, Iranian officials had floated the idea of shifting their group games from the United States to Mexico, but that proposal had already been nixed by Infantino.

More precisely, But Gianni Infantino, president of world football's governing body, reiterated again that the country "will be participating" in this summer's World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

It is worth noting that He was asked about Iran's participation again following Infantino's comments on Thursday and said: "Well, if Gianni said it, I'm OK.

By the numbers

“Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said at the scheduled meeting of football’s power-brokers in Vancouver.

On a related note, However, the first three and a half years of Infantino's leadership do not count because he took over following Sepp Blatter's resignation in 2016.

Going deeper, Earlier on Thursday, Infantino began his address to delegates at the 76th FIFA congress by reiterating that Iran would play their World Cup games in the US as scheduled.

On the substance, Iran was the only absentee from the 211-member congress as Thursday's meeting got under way after a clash with Canadian border officials earlier this week.

What they're saying

“If Gianni said it, I’m OK,” Trump told reporters ‌in the Oval Office.

“And of course, Iran will play [in] the United States of America.”

The wider context

On a related note, the comments come after FIFA President ⁠Gianni Infantino on ⁠Thursday said Iran would be present at the ⁠tournament and would play in ⁠the US.

Going deeper, Infantino, who has repeatedly stated that Iran will be at the World Cup, underscored that stance at the start of his address to delegates in Vancouver.

On the substance, Canada, which designated the IRGC a terrorist organization in 2024, said Wednesday that individuals linked to the force were "inadmissible.

Beyond the headlines, the Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.

More precisely, Iran were the only country not represented as Fifa met on Thursday for its annual congress in Canada.

The bottom line

• The comments come after FIFA President ⁠Gianni Infantino on ⁠Thursday said Iran would be present at the ⁠tournament and would play in ⁠the US.
• The Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
• But Infantino added: "Of course, Iran will play in the United States of America.
• Searches spiking right now: আমেরিকাতেই বিশ্বকাপ খেলবে ইরান, ফিফা কংগ্রেসে ঘোষণা সভাপতি ইনফান্তিনোর, সভায় এলেনই না ইরানের প্রতিনিধিরা, ইরানের বিশ্বকাপ খেলা নিয়ে বড় ঘোষণা ফিফা সভাপতির, আমেরিকাতেই বিশ্বকাপ খেলবে ইরান— চাপ আর বিতর্কের মাঝেই ফের বার্তা FIFA প্রেসিডেন্টের, Iran will play despite visa concerns: FIFA.