Infantino maintient l’Iran au Mondial 2026 malgré la guerre avec les États-Unis

FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared on March 31 that there is no "plan B, C or D" for Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup, insisting the country must compete in the tournament despite the ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Infantino acknowledged the political situation is "extremely delicate" but said Iran's national team represents not only people living inside the country but also the Iranian diaspora worldwide. The comments came as Iran's scheduled group stage matches remain set for Los Angeles and Seattle — both cities in the United States, one of the three co-hosts of the tournament. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin on June 11, 2026, leaving roughly ten weeks for the dispute to be resolved. Infantino's statement represents the governing body's firmest public position yet on the question of Iran's inclusion.

Trump told Infantino Iran is welcome to compete U.S. President Donald Trump told Infantino during a meeting that the Iranian team is "welcome" to compete in the tournament on American soil, according to Reuters reporting from March 10. The exchange came weeks after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026, in what was designated Operation Epic Fury. Trump's public welcome provided Infantino with a degree of political cover to maintain his position that the tournament's structure would not change. The FIFA president has not indicated any flexibility on the question of Iran's participation or the location of its matches, and as of March 20, he reiterated that the governing body was not moving toward approving any relocation, according to reports. The alignment between the FIFA president and the U.S. head of state has effectively closed off the most straightforward diplomatic off-ramp for Iranian football authorities.

Iran's minister warned participation may be impossible Iran's Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali stated in March that participation in the World Cup might be impossible following the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, according to Reuters. The Iranian Football Federation, led by President Mehdi Taj, has reportedly been in discussions with FIFA about relocating Iran's three group stage matches from the United States to Mexico, one of the other co-host nations. FIFA has not granted that request. The gap between the Iranian football authorities' position and FIFA's stated stance leaves the situation unresolved, with no confirmed information available on whether further negotiations are planned. Donyamali's warning and Taj's reported lobbying effort reflect the pressure Iranian sports officials face from the broader political and military context in which their country finds itself.

Iran faces Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand in Group G Iran was drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, with all three of its group stage matches scheduled to take place in the United States, in Los Angeles and Seattle. Infantino was direct about the governing body's position. „We want Iran to play. There is no plan B, C or D. There is only plan A.” — Gianni Infantino via G4Media The FIFA president also addressed the symbolic dimension of the team's presence at the tournament. „Iran must participate in the best possible conditions. The team represents the people who live in Iran, but also those in the diaspora.” — Gianni Infantino via G4Media The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd edition of the tournament, co-hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, running from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026, killing then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the initial attack. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei, was appointed Supreme Leader on March 9, 2026, amid the ongoing conflict. Whether FIFA's insistence on plan A will be sufficient to bring Iran's squad to American soil by June remains the central unresolved question of the dispute, with no confirmed deadline for a final decision from either side.

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