Iran’s national team unexpectedly altered their plans for the 2026 World Cup and decided to move their base camp to Mexico, leaving behind the location it had originally planned in the United States.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will compete at the 2026 World Cup despite growing geopolitical tensions and scrutiny surrounding the nation’s participation.

The Iranian men’s national soccer team were one of the first teams to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, an event shaping up to be FIFA’s largest yet, not only in terms of footprint and participating teams but also commercially, projected to generate upwards of $11 billion in revenue.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says that he has encouraged the Iranian players to continue inspiring their fans on the global stage.

The president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, recently drew international attention to a grassroots football field in the Iranian village of Lialman, near Lahijan.