FIFA wants 'all teams participating' at World Cup after U.S. attack on Iran

Seth Vertelney, USA TODAYSat, February 28, 2026 at 3:48 PM UTC

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FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said his organization is focused on all teams participating at the 2026 World Cup in the wake of the United States' military strikes on Iran.

The U.S. launched missile attacks on Iran on Saturday, Feb. 28, with President Donald Trump calling the mission a "major combat operation."

Iran has retaliated with attacks on U.S. air bases in the Gulf region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.

The clash between the United States and Iran comes just months before Iran is scheduled to travel to the U.S. for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Iran was drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Team Melli is scheduled to play two group stage games in Los Angeles (June 15 and 21) and one in Seattle (June 26).

In the immediate aftermath of the U.S. attacks on Iran, Grafstrom said that FIFA is monitoring the situation but remains optimistic that the World Cup will go forward with Iran as planned.

"I read the news [about Iran] this morning the same way you did," Grafstrom said at the International Football Association Board's annual general meeting in Cardiff, Wales, on Saturday.

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"We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world.

"We had the finals draw in Washington in which all teams participated, and our focus is on a safe World Cup with all the teams participating.

"We will continue to communicate as we always do with three [host] governments as we always do in any case. Everybody will be safe."

Visitors from Iran are already set to be barred from entering the United States for the World Cup. Iran was among 19 countries included in a travel ban that the Trump administration announced in June.

In December, Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj warned that some national team players and staff may also be denied U.S. visas for the World Cup due to their military background.

Several Iran national team players have served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite branch of the Iranian military that the U.S. government has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

The U.S. State Department has not ruled out the possibility that some Iranian players could see their visas denied.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA attack on Iran: FIFA responds to World Cup concerns

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