The AFC assured that Iran will play in the 2026 World Cup

Less than three months before the start of the 2026 World Cup, Iran's participation is still surrounded by uncertainty due to international tension and the war in the Middle East . However, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) assured that, so far, the Persian national team maintains its intention to play in the tournament

.

Windsor John, general secretary of the AFC, said that the agency did not receive any official communication indicating a possible loss of the team. “They are our members, we want them to play. As far as we know, Iran is going to play,” said the leader during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur

.

The director also clarified that, despite the speculations that emerged in recent weeks, the final decision depends exclusively on the Iranian federation. “It's a very emotional moment, everyone is saying a lot of things. At the end of the day, it is the Iranian football federation that must decide if it plays and, until today, we have been told that they are going to the World Cup,” he added.

John's statements contrast with what Iran's Sports Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, had said a few days ago, who suggested that the country could give up the tournament due to the conflict with the United States and Israel. The official had stated that the current circumstances made it difficult for the national team to participate in a competition that will have the United States as one of the

host countries.

In the midst of this context, the words of US President Donald Trump were also added. “Iran's national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don't think it's appropriate for them to be there, for their own life and safety. Thank you for your attention to this issue.”

Faced with these statements, the Iranian national team emphasized that the World Cup is organized by FIFA and not by a particular government, so they maintain their intention to compete. “The World Cup is a historic international event and its regulatory body is FIFA, not a person or a country,” they said

.

Along the same lines, they added: "No one can exclude the Iranian National Team from the World Cup, the only country that could be excluded is one that holds the title of host but lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in their

global events.”

Should they finally end up playing the World Cup, the Asian team is in Group G along with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.

According to the scheduled schedule, he would play his early-stage games in the United States, with games scheduled in California and Seattle.