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FIFA confirmed Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup, with all three group stage games set to take place in the U.S. Specifically, matches will be held in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Iran World Cup schedule 2026: United States cities where Iranians will play group games after FIFA confirmation originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Despite recent concerns about Iran's status in this summer's World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino not only confirmed their status to play in the tournament, but also that all three of their group stage games would be played in the U.S. as originally planned.
In recent months, President Trump made statements outlining his desire for Iran to be left out of World Cup play. He cast his desires for Italy to take their spot, despite missing out on qualification in their World Cup Playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout.
However, Iran will be present at the World Cup and play their matches in Los Angeles and Seattle for all of their Group G games.
Here's a look at Iran's World Cup schedule, which features all three of their group stage matches in the U.S.
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On Thursday in Vancouver, FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed at a FIFA Congress meeting that Iran would be playing their three group-stage games in the U.S. Despite the global conflicts and comments by President Trump, Iran's group-stage schedule will continue as planned.
Iran was rumored to either be removed from the World Cup entirely or their games would potentially move outside of the U.S. and be played in either Canada or Mexico, the other two countries jointly hosting this year's World Cup.
Iran will play at this summer's World Cup in Group G. Here is their schedule, with their first match set for June 15th.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | Location |
| June 15 | New Zealand | 9 p.m. | Los Angeles |
| June 21 | Belgium | 3 p.m. | Los Angeles |
| June 26 | Egypt | 11 p.m. | Seattle |
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Iran will have their group stage games split up across two major cities on the U.S. West Coast: Los Angeles, Calif., and Seattle, Wash.
Besides San Francisco, these two cities are the westernmost host cities in the U.S. Both of Iran's first two games will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Their final group stage game against Egypt will be played at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash.
After some speculation that Iran's games would be moved outside of the United States due to the latest global conflicts, Infantino confirmed that FIFA's original plan to have Iran play in the U.S. would remain.
MORE:What did Trump say about Iran playing at the 2026 World Cup?
Iran will play its group games in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Gianni Infantino confirmed that Iran will participate in the World Cup and play all three group stage games in the U.S.
Concerns arose from statements made by President Trump, who expressed a desire for Iran to be excluded from the tournament.

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