FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that Iran plays World Cup 2026 matches in the United States. This decision arrives despite tighter U.S. entry rules for Iranian nationals. Furthermore, the announcement settles weeks of speculation about Iran’s participation.
Iran qualified for the tournament in March 2025. The team will play two group matches in Inglewood, California. A third match will take place in Seattle. However, FIFA rejected a request to move Iran’s games to Mexico. Mexican officials confirmed this decision keeps the original venue plan intact.
Infantino spoke at a forum in Washington. He described Iran’s participation as fully settled. He also linked delivery to match integrity and player availability. Consequently, Iran plays World Cup games as part of the expanded 48-team format. The tournament includes 104 matches in total. The United States hosts 78 of those fixtures.
The final match will take place on July 19, 2026. The venue is in the New York-New Jersey cluster. FIFA projects $11 billion in tournament revenue during 2026. Meanwhile, industry estimates place gross output at $80.1 billion. The US portion of that output equals $30.5 billion. Thereafter, FIFA will distribute grants to 211 national associations from commercial yield.
U.S. travel restrictions include Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast. These rules create two different access paths. Teams and officials receive exemptions from the ban. Yet ticket-holding fans with Iranian passports cannot attend US matches. This exclusion stands under current US policy.
U.S. consular practice adds a Visa Bond Pilot Program. Some visitor applicants must pay refundable bonds. Officers can set bonds at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. This cost layer affects demand for late travel bookings. Therefore, some fans may not attend despite purchasing tickets.
The confirmation shows FIFA’s operational authority over host nations. It also highlights a gap between team access and fan access. The tournament will proceed with Iran playing World Cup matches on US soil. Security backdrops remain elevated around the event. For this reason, host cities continue planning for all 48 teams.
FIFA will release final match schedules in late 2025. U.S. agencies will manage two-track entry for players versus fans. Hotel and transport operators are preparing for six weeks of operations. Similarly, stadium contractors face final deadlines in early 2026. City agencies also coordinate with federal security protocols. Ultimately, Iran plays World Cup games as scheduled. No further venue changes are expected.