FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino announced on Thursday that Iran will participate in the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

"Let me start at the outset confirming, straightaway for those who maybe want to say something else or want to write something else, that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026," Infantino announced while speaking at the FIFA World Congress in Vancouver, Canada. "And of course Iran will play in the United States of America."

"The reason for that is very simple, dear friends, is because we have to unite. We have to bring people together. It is my responsibility," Infantino said. 

On Tuesday, Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and other soccer officials from the country were turned away at the Toronto airport on their way to attend the FIFA Congress. The federation said the officials had valid visas to attend the gathering, but returned to Turkey due to what it described as the “unacceptable behaviour” of Canadian immigration officials. 

"I can provide the following assurances and facts. One is that, as you know, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and all those members have been listed as a terrorist organisation for several years," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said. "The members are ​prohibited from coming. We have a ​series of screenings, and we take ⁠action. And no members have entered the country. Action has been taken appropriately."

Taj was previously a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that he was “okay” with Iran’s participation in the tournament. 

"Well if Gianni said it I'm okay. Did Gianni say it? ... You know what? ​Let them play. Well, Gianni's fantastic, he's a friend of mine,” said Trump, who was awarded the “FIFA Peace Prize” in December. 

Trump previously told Politico in March that "I really don't care" if Iran participates in the World Cup, and in a post on Truth Social that month wrote that “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."

Iran last month requested alternative venues for matches in the U.S., which FIFA rejected. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran’s national team would be allowed to participate in the tournament last week, but said that anyone deemed to have ties to the IRGC would be barred from entering the U.S.. 

“Nothing from the U.S. has told them they can’t come. If they decide not to come on their own, it’s because they decided not to come,” Rubio said to reporters. “What they can’t bring is a bunch of I.R.G.C. terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers.” 

The World Cup will be hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and will run from June 11 through July 19. 

According to current schedules, Iran will play on June 15 against New Zealand and on June 21 against Belgium, both in Inglewood, California. The Iranian team is then set to play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.