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Fresh questions have emerged over Iran’s participation in the upcoming World Cup this summer following reports that their planned warm-up matches have been cancelled.

The 2026 World Cup already faces complications concerning Iran’s involvement, as players, fans, and officials from the country are viewed as unwelcome in the United States, one of the three host nations, despite Iran having earned qualification on the field like other teams.

FIFA has previously sanctioned several national football associations for their governments’ military actions against fellow FIFA members. However, the global football community now seems resigned to the fact that Donald Trump and his associates have openly issued warnings—without facing any repercussions—that Iranian visitors might not be safe in the US due to the president’s policies and decisions.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has placed the world football governing body in an uncomfortable and controversial position regarding Iran’s participation. His close association with Trump has left FIFA powerless as the American leader continues to influence a tournament often accused of taking more from host nations than it gives in return.

Iran’s inclusion in the World Cup remains extremely fragile, with any new setback potentially prompting the Iranian government and football federation to consider withdrawing the team—particularly as many of the recent issues lie beyond their control.

The team’s build-up has already been affected by larger concerns, and now two of their scheduled friendly matches in the United States have been cancelled by their opponents.

According to the Tehran Times, “One of these matches was against North Macedonia. Despite earlier agreements and an official announcement from the football federation confirming the fixture, North Macedonia decided to cancel the friendly.”

Additionally, “Angola, which was supposed to face Iran in the US as part of the pre-World Cup training programme, also withdrew from the match. The Iranian Football Federation is now seeking alternate opponents to keep the team’s preparation schedule on course.”

Suggestions from external parties that Italy should replace Iran in the World Cup had little legitimate basis aside from Infantino’s perceived disregard for sporting fairness. The Italian government quickly dismissed the idea, indicating that a play-off would be a more likely route to determine any replacement should Iran choose to withdraw.

Iran have been drawn into Group G, meaning all three of their group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States in June.

Their campaign kicks off against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Monday, June 15, followed by a match against Belgium at the same venue six days later. The group stage concludes with a fixture against Egypt at Seattle’s Lumen Field on Friday, June 26.