Overview
- Iranian players are welcome to enter the United States for the 2026 World Cup, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the White House on Thursday, while warning that anyone judged to have ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would be denied entry.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino has insisted Iran will participate, with no plan to replace the team, and Iran remains scheduled to play Group G games in Los Angeles and Seattle.
- Iranian officials say the squad is preparing for the tournament, though final attendance will follow national security decisions, and team plans include a pre‑event arrival that meets FIFA timelines.
- A key hurdle is U.S. visa clearance for specific delegation members, including federation president Mehdi Taj, who was previously blocked from attending the World Cup draw in Washington.
- Talk of swapping in Italy came from U.S. envoy Paolo Zampolli, but Italian leaders rejected the idea and reporters note that any replacement would be FIFA’s call, typically drawing from Asia under its discretionary rules, after Iran earlier failed in a bid to move its games to Mexico following the Feb. 28 conflict.