Trump Administration Prepares for Iran at 2026 World Cup

Iran is coming to America — and the White House is making it happen.

Despite no diplomatic ties between the US and Iran since the 1980s, the Trump administration is actively planning for the Iranian national team’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force, confirmed the arrangements this week.

Iran is scheduled to arrive by June 10 for a training camp in Tucson, Arizona, before playing matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. Their group stage opponents are New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt.

FIFA has positioned the tournament as a global unifier. And for now, geopolitics is taking a back seat.