World Cup ‘Too Big’ To Be Postponed By Middle East Conflict

FIFA Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi said the World Cup was “huge” and the 2026 tournament would go ahead as planned despite ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

Speaking at the International Broadcast Center in Dallas on Monday, Schirgi was asked specifically about Iran, whose participation in the World Cup is uncertain due to Israel and the United States’ war against the country.

“We will come to a solution at some stage and the World Cup will of course go on,” Schirgi told NBC 5 in Dallas. “The World Cup is huge and we hope everyone who qualifies can take part.”

Schirgi said that FIFA closely follows the situation in the Middle East and evaluates daily developments by working with federal and international partners.

FIFA said last week that it was monitoring events in Iran just months before the start of the World Cup in June. Iran qualified for the tournament through its participation in the ⁠Asian ⁠Football Conference.

Iran is scheduled to meet Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt in Group G. Two of the games will be played in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Schirgi said FIFA was in contact with Iran’s football federation but declined to give details of those talks.

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest tournament in history, with 48 countries competing in three countries. The United States will host games in 11 cities, Mexico in three and Canada in two.

FIFA officials were in Dallas to announce the city’s fan festival plans, where the International Broadcast Center inside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is still under construction. Schirgi said the IBC will operate 24 hours a day during the World Cup and is expected to bring between 3,000 and 3,500 media members to Dallas.