FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Iran will participate in this summer’s World Cup as planned despite its fractured relationship with the United States.
Iran had been angling to move its scheduled games to Mexico after Donald Trump declared it was not “appropriate” for the team to play in the US amid its conflict with the country, but Infantino said Tuesday nothing about the event’s calendar will change.
“Iran will be at the World Cup,” Infantino said, according to French news agency AFP.
Infantino was at an exhibition matchup between Costa Rica and Iran in Turkey when he made the declaration.
“That’s why we’re here,” Infantino continued. “We’re delighted because they’re a very, very strong team. I’m very happy.”
Iran’s involvement in the World Cup had been a question mark since February, following the US and Israel’s airstrikes on the country.
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In early March, Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali stated the country would “under no circumstances” take part in the tournament.
Yet when Trump said he didn’t “believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Iran seemed to change its stance by writing in an Instagram post that “no one can exclude” it from the World Cup.
“I’ve seen the team,” Infantino said, “I’ve spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine.”
The World Cup will kick off in June in the US, Mexico and Canada. Iran is slated to play its first two matchups at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, before it hits the pitch at Lumen Field in Seattle.