Iran will be at World Cup and will play in the US, says FIFA boss

VANCOUVER, April 30 : FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted Iran would play World Cup matches in the United States, as the soccer governing body's Congress opened on Thursday without the country’s delegation, its absence highlighting tensions and challenges surrounding the tournament.

"Let me start at the outset. Of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026. And of course Iran will play in the United States of America," Infantino said.

A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters two members of the delegation could have attended the FIFA congress but chose not to after one of their delegation was denied entry into Canada. 

Taj is a former member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Canadian officials said entry decisions were made on a case-by-case basis and individuals linked to the IRGC, which Ottawa designates as a terrorist organisation, are inadmissible.

"I can provide the following assurances and facts. One is that, as you know, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and all those members have been listed as a terrorist organisation for several years," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said.

"The members are prohibited from coming. We have a series of screenings, and we take action. And no members have entered the country. Action has been taken appropriately."

Iran's absence deprived the congress of direct representation from a country whose presence at the 2026 World Cup is already shaping behind-the-scenes discussions and the issue is particularly acute given the tournament’s cross-border nature.

The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will require teams, officials and support staff to move repeatedly between jurisdictions, raising the