Gianni Infantino, president of the Fdration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), said that, regarding Iran’s participationwhich has emerged as an issue for the 2026 North and Central American World CupU.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a ‘welcoming’ stance.

On the 11th, Infantino posted on his Instagram: “This evening I met President Trump and talked about preparations for the upcoming World Cup and the growing anticipation 93 days before the opening.”

In the post, Infantino said, “We also discussed the current situation in Iran and the fact that Iran’s national football team has secured a berth for this World Cup,” adding, “President Trump reaffirmed that he naturally welcomes the Iranian team’s participation in the tournament being held in the United States.”

At the end of last month, after the United States and Israel conducted airstrikes on Iran and Iran retaliated by attacking Israel and U.S.-related facilities in the Middle East, attention has turned to the potential impact on the North and Central American World Cup. The United States is one of the co-hosts of this World Cup along with Canada and Mexico, and Iran has already clinched a place in the finals through the Asian qualifiers.

Earlier this month, in an interview with the political outlet Politico, President Trump, when asked about Iran’s participation in the World Cup, said, “I really do not care.” Against this backdrop, President Trump’s ‘welcome for Iran’s participation’ stance has been conveyed through Infantino.

Infantino added, “Right now, we all need events like the World Cup that bring people together,” and, “I appreciate President Trump’s support; this once again shows that football unites the world.”

Under the fixtures already set, Iran is in Group G of the World Cup and is scheduled to play New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt, all in the United States. If Iran and the United States, which is in Group D, both finish second in their groups, they could meet in the first round of the knockout stage, the round of 32.