FIFA Says Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in U.S. After Canada Entry Dispute

Overview

• Gianni Infantino, speaking Thursday at FIFA’s Congress in Vancouver, said Iran remains in the 2026 World Cup and will play its group matches in U.S. cities.
• Iran’s football chiefs were stopped at Toronto airport and flew home without attending the FIFA and Asian Football Confederation meetings, with local media naming Mehdi Taj, Hedayat Mombeini, and Hamed Momeni.
• Canada classifies Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group, and Prime Minister Mark Carney said people with IRGC ties are inadmissible and were blocked from entering.
• Iranian federation leaders expect to meet FIFA in Zurich on May 20 to discuss travel and security guarantees following the airport dispute.
• FIFA has kept Iran’s schedule in Los Angeles and Seattle and earlier rejected a request to move games to Mexico, leaving some officials and supporters unsure they can travel under differing U.S. and Canadian rules.