Infantino Rebuffs Iran’s Request to Move World Cup Matches

Any hope that Iran would be able to compete in the 2026 World Cup came to an end this week.

Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj requested last week that the country’s World Cup matches be moved from the US to Mexico. He had previously said Iran would be withdrawing from the field, but made the request soon after.

While Infantino has yet to respond to the request directly, he reaffirmed that all World Cup teams would be required to play at the times and locations set by FIFA.

FIFA Navigates Difficult Geopolitical Landscape

Infantino’s words shouldn’t be a surprise, given his relationship with US President Donald Trump. The FIFA leader awarded him the first FIFA Peace Prize, despite criticism that it pandered to the embattled leader. Since then, the US President has ordered strikes against several nations, including Iran.

While it’s easy to blame Infantino for the chaos, the truth is he hasn’t had much choice. As FIFA’s top official, he is tasked with ensuring the tournament happens. By attempting to appease Trump, he hoped the World Cup would be spared from his chaotic rule, but that hasn’t been the case.

Regardless of his own political views, it seems Infantino will support the US as June’s kickoff quickly approaches.

Iran Out of Options

Many expected FIFA to reject or ignore Iran’s request to move matches, given that Infantino publicly promised the national team would be welcome and could safely participate in the tournament. However, Trump refused to guarantee the latter, saying it may be unsafe for their players.

With the country unable to move its matches, Iran is now out of options to participate in the 2026 World Cup. While the country has yet to be represented in the historic field, the rapidly approaching kickoff makes it impossible to see how the national team could make the trip.

Trump Floats Stationing ICE Agents at Airports

The situation with Iran may affect far more than the countries involved.

The threat from Iran has the US on high alert for terror attacks, leading to increased security. Even if the conflict with Iran ends before June, that is unlikely to change the extra emphasis on security for the World Cup.

One idea floated by Trump involves stationing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in airports around the US. The controversial branch of law enforcement has been involved in deadly clashes with US citizens and non-citizens alike. They operate with little oversight and often outside US law.

If ICE agents are in every major American airport, it will make international fans think twice before visiting. Even with the proper visas and approvals, the fear of being detained by the rogue law enforcement agency could lead some to skip the trip.