This year’s FIFA World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Besides that, this will be the first tournament with 48 teams and will have 104 matches in total. The majority of teams have already booked their place in the World Cup, but Asian giants Iran's participation remains unclear.

Iran's football team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the fourth consecutive time. However, on 28 February 2026, the US launched an airstrike on Iran, which led to the demise of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Besides that, a subtle warning from United States President Donald Trump to the Iranian national football team has created uproar in the football world. Moreover, Iran’s recent request to FIFA over shifting their matches from the USA to Mexico was turned down, which has created confusion about what to expect at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The escalating military conflict between the two nations and FIFA's silence have now put major doubt on Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Iran’s FIFA World Cup participation hangs in the balance

US President Donald Trump recently sent a stern safety warning to the Iranian football team. The United States will be hosting matches in eleven stadiums. Some of the main stadiums to host the World Cup matches are MetLife Stadium, AT&T Stadium, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Donald Trump said on the Truth Social platform: “The Iran National Football Team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety”.

Following Trump’s warning, the Iranian football team responded with a strong reply, saying the tournament belongs to the FIFA, not to any country. This is not the first World Cup Iran will take part in, and the nation has been consistent in qualifying rounds as well as representation in the World Cup.

Iran’s national team said, “The World Cup is a historic and international event, and its governing body is FIFA, not any individual country. Iran’s national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament.

“Certainly no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup; the only country that can be excluded is one that merely carries the title of ‘host’ yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event.”

It was rumoured that Iran could be replaced by Iraq or the UAE. Following these rumours and uncertainty between the two nations, Iran also pleaded with FIFA to shift World Cup matches to Mexico, which were firmly rejected by FIFA.

A FIFA spokesperson said: "FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including Iran, to discuss planning for the World Cup."

"FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025."

There is no certainty on whether Iran will be participating in the 2026 World Cup. The national team has set their training camp in Antalya, Turkey. With the ongoing military conflict and teams ready to sway places with Iran in the FIFA World Cup, only time will tell what will happen next, as we are just 82 days away from the World Cup.

Also read: FIFA rejects Iran's bid to shift World Cup matches to Mexico amid Donald Trump's 'safety' warning