An Iranian government spokesperson has declared that the country's men's national team are fully prepared for what she described as a "proud and successful participation" at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Fatemeh Mohejerani, the Iranian government's spokesperson, made the announcement on state television on Wednesday, citing a formal declaration from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. "The Ministry of Youth and Sports made an announcement about the full preparedness of our national soccer team for presence in the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., by the order of the minister," Mohejerani told Iran's state broadcaster.

Uncertainty lingers despite official confidence

Iran's participation at the tournament — which kicks off on June 11 — has been shrouded in doubt since the United States and Israel launched military attacks on February 28. Despite the ongoing conflict, FIFA has maintained that Iran will compete according to the group-stage schedule confirmed last December, and has refused to entertain any proposal to relocate the team's matches to Mexico.

The Iranian soccer league itself has been suspended since the outbreak of the war, yet the national team's official Instagram account posted training images from Tehran earlier this week, signalling continued preparations.

Infantino steps in

A notable step forward came on March 31, when FIFA president Gianni Infantino travelled to Turkey to meet Iranian soccer officials and players. The squad had used the occasion to play two warmup matches in Antalya — against Nigeria and Costa Rica — and Infantino pledged to assist in securing a training camp outside Iran ahead of the tournament.

Turkey remains a likely destination for any pre-tournament camp. FIFA had not confirmed the details of a possible arrangement as of Wednesday.

Schedule, visas, and arrival logistics

Iran are scheduled to play their group-stage fixtures at the Los Angeles Rams' stadium in Inglewood — facing New Zealand and Belgium — before travelling to Seattle to take on Egypt. The team must arrive at their training base in Tucson, Arizona, no later than June 10, at least five days before their opening match, as stipulated by FIFA regulations.

One critical obstacle remains unresolved: the issuance of United States entry visas for the entire Iranian delegation. Among those requiring clearance is soccer federation president Mehdi Taj, a vice president of the Asian soccer body who was previously barred from attending the World Cup draw in Washington D.C. in December — the same ceremony at which Infantino presented U.S. President Donald Trump with the specially created FIFA Peace Prize.

The 48-nation tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, runs through July 19.